At Amanah’s national convention, Pasir Salak Amanah delegate Muhaimin Sulam asked why the RM1 trillion debt was not stated in the 11th Malaysia Plan mid-term review report, pointing out that the report only stated the country’s debts stood at RM686 billion.
“We don’t know which is which,” he said in debating on the economy.
He added it was said the addition of RM199 billion in government guarantees and RM244 billion in lease payments to the debt would result in the RM1 trillion figure.
Muhaimin reminded delegates of the “magic tricks” politicians used to “conjure up” figures to influence the people.
In the days following Pakatan Harapan’s formation of the new government, Putrajaya announced that the country’s debts stood at RM1 trillion and this problem needed to be resolved.
Against the backdrop of the RM1 trillion debt claim, the government allocated RM314.5 billion for Budget 2019.
On Budget 2019, Muhaimin said initiatives for the economy have failed to boost investor confidence and had a negative impact on the people.
“The stock market following the tabling of the budget does not reflect investors’ confidence in the Pakatan Harapan government’s policies.”
Monitor governance
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Wanita Amanah wing representative Norhayati Bidin had suggested that the government establish an agency to perform internal audits to ensure ministers, deputy ministers, MPs, assemblymen and government officials meet good governance standards.
With this monitoring agency, the quality and competency of party members could be enhanced, she said.
Norhayati, who is also Wanita Amanah secretary, said the government should provide guidelines to ensure that no political leaders or appointees in the government abuse their power, to prevent cronyism, nepotism and giving of contracts without transparency.
“A policy for online complaints should be implemented so that those responsible would be aware of their shortcomings.
“Wanita Amanah is confident that with good governance, problems related to abuse of power, corruption and financial leakages that occur at all levels, can be resolved,” she said.
The three-day convention, which began yesterday, is the first to be held since the party became a component of Pakatan Harapan that formed the government.
A total of 1,000 delegates from 156 registered party divisions, as well as 3,000 local and foreign observers are attending the convention.