KUALA TERENGGANU, 16 Jan 2009: The government needs the people’s support to ensure projects listed for implementation under the RM7 billion stimulus package are successful as they are vital to protect the economy.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the package was for all Malaysians and not to enrich a particular group of people.
“With the huge amount (allocated), we need your support because we work for you. We don’t disburse the money to only certain groups of people but we spread it to all.
“What’s the point of giving to make life comfortable of only certain people, if want to lead an easy life, let everyone have an easy life,” he said during a breakfast meeting with Chinese Malaysian voters.
Abdullah said that during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the government succeeded in improving the economy because the people provided the opportunity to do so.
“We have RM7 billion now and the government wants to spend the money to reinforce and make the economy more resilient. So, if anything happens, our economy can withstand (the external challenges and pressures).
“People can say anything, but more importantly the government must take care of the economy, we should not give problems (to the people),’ h said.
The Prime Minister said the government had taken various measures to ensure success of the economic stimulus package including asking civil servants to improve efficiency and work quality to facilitate implementation of planned projects.
“We want to see what we are doing is delivered in the best possible way and opportunities available in the country are distributed fairly to all the races, but it is important that all of us must cooperate and work together.
“If we cannot, then we cannot succeed,” he said.
Abdullah said the government is still strong and has the capacity to implement all the planned programmes although there are claims that the Barisan Nasional (BN) was weak.
“Who said the government is weak? We are not weak. Who said our people want to run away to the opposition? They are the losers, why want to run to them?
“They said the BN has problems, MCA has problems, Gerakan has problems, you think PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) has no problems? PAS has no problems? Even DAP wants to leave (Pakatan Rakyat) because of hudud (Islamic Penal Code).
“They (Pakatan Rakyat) even with three parties cannot be together. We have 14 (component parties) but yet we can cooperate because we work for the people,” said Abdullah who is also BN chair.
The Prime Minister said although BN had problems, each of its component parties managed to overcome their problems as they worked as one and they worked hard.
“We help one another, (if) Umno has problems, MCA will help, (if) MCA loses a seat, we give it back to them later. It’s not easy to manage this, even parents have headache taking care of two or three children, BN has to take care how many millions?” he asked.
What was important said Abdullah was for everyone to be tolerant, moderate and work hard to preserve stability for the nation to progress. — Bernama
