Muhyiddin: Opposition clueless on economy

MUAR: Both the country and Petronas will go bankrupt very quickly if the DAP and PAS form the next government, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said. 

He said the DAP, which wanted to use Petronas cash to give a RM6,000 bonus to households with an annual income of RM6,000 or less, would drain the coffers of the petroleum company fast as Petronas was also cushioning the impact of high petroleum prices now. 

At the same time, he added, PAS’ plans to make Malaysia a welfare state and to give cash aid on many things would wreck the economy. 

“The opposition parties do not know what they are talking about on economic matters, but we in Barisan Nasional have managed the economy well for 50 years. 

“They don’t know how to govern a nation and if they form the government, Malaysia will go bankrupt very soon,” he said before leading a Barisan campaign in Lenga here yesterday. 

Muhyiddin said Barisan’s general election manifesto launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday was not empty promises. 

He said the eight-point manifesto covered every need of all Malaysians and would spur greater economic growth in the country.  

He said Malaysia also controlled the prices of essential items, including construction materials such as cement but the people did not know about these moves. 

If not for these measures, Malaysians would have to pay a lot more for foodstuff, including flour, cooking oil and sugar. 

In SEREMBAN, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the Barisan manifesto proved that Malaysia was peaceful and its people could prosper unlike other countries facing conflicts such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.  

Umno Deputy Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also the Barisan candidate for the Rembau parliamentary seat, said the manifesto was thoroughly done especially the pledge where it clearly outlined plans for the people over the next five years. 

“It answers the Opposition who have been attacking us with the price hike issue. A lot is explained such as subsidies and increases in salary and allowance,” he said.  

“The people can read it and the candidates can use it in their ceramah. These are concrete and not empty promises.”

--THE STAR