Aug 2: Pakatan Rakyat today said its alternative Budget for 2012 will be announced in October ahead of the government's Budget 2012.
Describing the alternative Budget as crucial, parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said it would give the people and the business community an opportunity to evaluate PR's policies as opposed to BN's.
“Budget 2012 by Pakatan Rakyat is another important economic document offering the people and business sector an opportunity to evaluate the differences in economic approach between us and Barisan Nasional,” he told a press conference after chairing the first session of 'Economic Discussion on the Orange Book' in Shah Alam.
The discussion, attended by economists, market analysts, bankers, workers union representatives and consumer activists, focused on matters pertaining to immediate steps to control rising inflation and measures to help Malaysians burdened by it.
Also present were representatives from PR. PAS was represented by its deputy president Mohamad Sabu and central committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Urgent need for economic reforms
Anwar said the discussion was the first of a series of sessions to get feedback and suggestions to be incorporated in PR's Budget 2012.
"Each session will focus on the major economic policies of the country, including growth policies and competencies, reduction of cost of living, and reforms in education in line with human resource needs,” stressed Anwar.
Anwar said it was BN's outdated view on the economy as well as monopolistic policies which had contributed to rising cost of living in the country, affecting all sectors of society.
As such, he said PR endorsed an urgent need to push for reforms in the manner of awarding permits, saying it was directly linked to sharp increase in prices of goods.
On the high price of petrol and diesel, Anwar, who had drafted Budget policies for the government during his years as Finance minister, attributed it to poor management of energy resources.
He said Malaysia reportedly used more than 70 percent of its high-grade raw oil to be processed into petrol and diesel for domestic usage.
“Because prices of raw oil form the main component of the rising costs, changing the raw oil to a lower grade can result in lower petrol and diesel prices in Malaysia.
"That is why Pakatan Rakyat is confident that the price of petrol and diesel can be lowered immediately. One way to achieve this is through proper use of energy,” he added.
0 comments:
Post a Comment