Sunday January 13, 2013

Muhyiddin: Well-planned national transformation programme sees Malaysia flush with funds

By ONG HAN SEAN
hansean@thestar.com.my

All smiles: Muhyiddin sharing a light moment with one of the local leaders during his ‘local fruits’ break at Medan Selera in Karak. Joining them are Adnan (second from right) and Liow (fourth from right).

BENTONG: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the national transformation programme is like a locomotive speeding along a well-planned track.

“The driver is our Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) while I am the conductor. Other leaders are taking care of the carriages.

“Since we are already on the right track, we should not do something that will cause it to be derailed because the people are the ones who will lose,” the Deputy Prime Minister said at a 1Malaysia rally at Dataran Karak Setia here yesterday.

He said if the Government is weak, does not take care of the people and allows the country to remain poor, then there is a valid basis to topple it.

“But, this is not the case in Malaysia. People in other countries demonstrate every day because they are hungry,” he said, criticising the Opposition-led demonstration in Kuala Lumpur that was demanding for the Government to step down.

“They are too obsessed about taking over Putrajaya. Why should we step down? The only ones who can determine this are the people,” said Muhyiddin, reiterating there was no reason to change the Government as everyone was well and the economy was growing with plenty of jobs available.

“We are not bankrupt. In fact, our economy is growing. In the United States, President Obama cannot even develop the country due to its economic situation while our economy and industries are doing very well,” said Muhyiddin.

He said the tax revenue collected last year exceeded RM124.9bil, the highest-ever collection.

“Our economy is sound. Malaysia is flush with funds. Our inflation level at about 2% to 2.5% is among the lowest in the world.

“There are countries where the inflation has reached 100%. They have to bring one whole sack of money just to pay for a loaf of bread,” Muhyiddin told the thousands of people who gathered at the rally to support the Barisan Nasional.

At the gathering, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob announced allocations of up to RM11.8mil to upgrade and develop infrastructures in the Bentong district.

Present were Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel and PPP president Datuk Seri M. Kayveas.

Muhyiddin had earlier arrived in a helicopter at the Karak town square and spent about an hour mingling with the residents at the farmers' market and nearby spots.

Petai trader Rafeah Unthong, 51, said she felt excited when the deputy prime minister bought a frond of petai from her stall.

“The petai he bought cost RM60. He gave RM100 and told me to keep the change,” said Rafeah, who hails from Kampung Pelantar Jamburias, near here.

News

Sunday January 13, 2013

Muhyiddin: Well-planned national transformation programme sees Malaysia flush with funds

By ONG HAN SEAN hansean@thestar.com.my

By ONG HAN SEAN
hansean@thestar.com.my