KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs beat off an Opposition motion today to dock one month’s pay from Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s salary over his management of the economy, and argued that the national debt of RM407 billion was necessary to counter the global financial crisis.Government backbenchers also said that the country’s inflation was under control when responding to Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) claims that the prime minister had failed to manage the economy.
“What is the problem if the debt is 51 per cent of GDP? In America and Europe, it is worse.
“What is important is the economy and public welfare. The debt is to boost the economy, not for jollying here and there,” said Pasir Salak MP Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.
His Umno colleague Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan also said that the Opposition “wants an economic slump” to happen as was the case when Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was finance minister during the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
“Remember when Permatang Pauh was finance minister. He didn’t want to spend and it resulted in an economic slump,” the Kota Belud MP said.
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