ID :
28567
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 10:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/28567
The shortlink copeid
WALKOUT AN IRRESPONSIBLE ACT, SAYS DPM NAJIB
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak Tuesday slammed opposition members of parliament for staging a walkout in the Lower House of Parliament, saying the move was an irresponsible act.
He said the opposition members should have remained in the House because
what was being deliberated at the time was additional measures crucial for the
country's future and people's well-being.
"As a responsible and constructive opposition, they should have remained in
the House.
"The people should realise this... that they (opposition members) have
shirked their responsibilities as a constructive and responsible opposition," he
told reporters at the parliament lobby Tuesday.
Opposition members staged a walkout during the winding up of the 2009
Budget
debate by Najib, which started at 4.30pm, claiming that the Finance Minister did
not give them opportunities to interject to get clarifications.
Najib said he decided not to give way until after he finished tabling the
first part the stimulus package so as to avoid any confusion on the new measures
introduced by the government.
"It's better to let me finish with the presentation first. When a clear
picture has been established, if they want to asked for any clarification, I
will clarify. But they are impatient and insisted on walking out.
"I've promised to give them time to raise whatever question and
clarification. I am not denying them their rights; I am just using my rights to
determine when they can interject," he said.
When asked whether there was indeed confusion between the 2009 Budget and
the additional measures tabled today, Najib said, "This is not a new budget
because the amount for development and operating expenditures remains the same."
Najib said what was happening was that the government managed to save on
fuel subsidy from RM21 billion previously to between RM10 billion and RM11
billion at the moment following the drop in the global fuel price.
"So there is a saving which we can utilise to stimulate the economy and
implement projects that could generate economic growth and help improve the
people's well-being," he said.
On the Eurocopter deal, Najib said the government was proven right in the
way it implemented the procurement.
"The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had said that it found no procedurial
irregularities in the deal... all are in accordance with the rules and carried
out in a transparent manner," he said.
He said the purchase was appropriate based on the armed forces' needs in
defending the country's sovereignty.
"We are going to decide... the present situation requires the purchase to
be
postponed; so we postpone it but eventually if we buy, (the price) is going to
be much higher than that," he said when asked whether the government would
decide to buy the Eurocopter helicopters before February next year.
The price for the 12 EC725 helicopters as stated in the tender is RM1.604
billion and is only valid until February next year, according to the PAC.
-- BERNAMA
He said the opposition members should have remained in the House because
what was being deliberated at the time was additional measures crucial for the
country's future and people's well-being.
"As a responsible and constructive opposition, they should have remained in
the House.
"The people should realise this... that they (opposition members) have
shirked their responsibilities as a constructive and responsible opposition," he
told reporters at the parliament lobby Tuesday.
Opposition members staged a walkout during the winding up of the 2009
Budget
debate by Najib, which started at 4.30pm, claiming that the Finance Minister did
not give them opportunities to interject to get clarifications.
Najib said he decided not to give way until after he finished tabling the
first part the stimulus package so as to avoid any confusion on the new measures
introduced by the government.
"It's better to let me finish with the presentation first. When a clear
picture has been established, if they want to asked for any clarification, I
will clarify. But they are impatient and insisted on walking out.
"I've promised to give them time to raise whatever question and
clarification. I am not denying them their rights; I am just using my rights to
determine when they can interject," he said.
When asked whether there was indeed confusion between the 2009 Budget and
the additional measures tabled today, Najib said, "This is not a new budget
because the amount for development and operating expenditures remains the same."
Najib said what was happening was that the government managed to save on
fuel subsidy from RM21 billion previously to between RM10 billion and RM11
billion at the moment following the drop in the global fuel price.
"So there is a saving which we can utilise to stimulate the economy and
implement projects that could generate economic growth and help improve the
people's well-being," he said.
On the Eurocopter deal, Najib said the government was proven right in the
way it implemented the procurement.
"The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had said that it found no procedurial
irregularities in the deal... all are in accordance with the rules and carried
out in a transparent manner," he said.
He said the purchase was appropriate based on the armed forces' needs in
defending the country's sovereignty.
"We are going to decide... the present situation requires the purchase to
be
postponed; so we postpone it but eventually if we buy, (the price) is going to
be much higher than that," he said when asked whether the government would
decide to buy the Eurocopter helicopters before February next year.
The price for the 12 EC725 helicopters as stated in the tender is RM1.604
billion and is only valid until February next year, according to the PAC.
-- BERNAMA
