GEORGE TOWN – Lim Guan Eng has expressed displeasure that nothing has been channelled to Penang under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) despite RM2 billion being purportedly spent on foreign consultants to prepare the five-year development strategy.
The DAP secretary-general today asked if Putrajaya regards foreigners as more a part of the “Malaysian Family” than non-Bumiputera Malaysians.
The RM2 billion spent on overseas consultants, as alleged by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament, is a shocking example of crony capitalism, said Lim.
On September 28, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the national development plan was prepared by Economic Planning Unit (EPU) officers.
“EPU, under the Prime Minister’s Department, never spent RM2 billion to complete the 12MP book, as claimed by Anwar.”
Lim, who is former Penang chief minister and federal finance minister, said: “To deny Penang their rightful development when the state is the third-largest tax contributor is simply not right, and unacceptable. Can the government clarify what are the projects available under 12MP for Penang?
“How can the prime minister convince the rakyat about the sincerity of and commitment to his Malaysian Family concept that is inclusive and unites all Malaysians, when he talks of protectionist policies for Bumis but not for non-Bumis vis-à-vis foreign ownership?”
Based on the expected reduced revenue estimates and increased expenditure requirements, he said, the government has no choice but to tap into the local domestic debt market to fund RM400 billion in development expenditure, or RM80 billion yearly, for 12MP.
With the RM400 billion increase in public debt, there is concern that 12MP will be politicised, with pro-opposition states being denied and discriminated against in terms of development funding, he said.
He also criticised the exemption granted to foreign international integrated logistics services (IILS) firms from complying with the 51% Bumiputera equity policy, but requiring locally owned IILS to give up their shares and ownership control to Bumis.
This only highlights the extent of such discrimination and injustice, said Lim.
“Or, are foreigners considered more of a bigger part of the Malaysian Family than non-Bumi Malaysians?”
He said the government should implement policies to alleviate poverty or enhance income equally, regardless of race or religion.
He added that every Malaysian, regardless of race or religion, will support efforts to eradicate poverty, which mostly affects Bumiputeras and the native populations of Sabah and Sarawak. – The Vibes, October 2, 2021
