BE CONSIDERATE, NAJIB TELLS GOVT
Don’t axe peopleoriented projects just to erase opposition’s legacy, says former PM
THE people’s interests are more important than erasing the opposition’s legacy or punishing states held by them. Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who drew on the cancellation of several projects initiated by his administration, said he was not bothered even if the new government was on a drive to erase his legacy.
“But they must be more transparent and considerate before they axe projects which were embarked on for the benefit of Malaysians and the country at large.
“These cannot be cancelled just because they are perceived to have been started by me,” he said in a Facebook post here.
While admitting it was Pakatan Harapan’s prerogative to erase his nine-year legacy as prime minister, Najib called on them to axe such projects only after careful consideration.
“If they have to cancel these projects, they should only do so by using transparent means, as well as carefully studying and getting public opinion beforehand.
“I once again urge the PH government to reveal the environmental impact assessments and the feasibility studies for all these projects so that they can be assessed by the public.”
Among the projects axed in the past two weeks are the MRT Line 3 and the Kuala Lumpur to Singapore HighSpeed Rail projects.
Najib stressed that the government could not cancel these projects based on erroneous motivation or inaccurate excuses.
He cited his disagreement with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on the national debt levels as an example.
“They can’t give inaccurate excuses like they did with the national debt.
“They have to look at the positive development to the economy, job opportunities and the benefits people will reap from the national projects,” he added.
He said one crucial project facing the axe was the development of the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL).
He claimed that the government was keen on cancelling the development even though the first phase of the project from Gombak to Kota Baru was 20 per cent complete and its cancellation would cost RM22 billion.
He pointed out that the project involved three states, which were in opposition’s hands.
“I was made to understand that the payment for the project’s development is based on the project’s achievement (build-up) and not timebased as alleged by the government.
“This, however, did not stop them from using inaccurate facts to cancel the peopleoriented project.
“Doesn’t anyone know that the three states will reap the most benefits from ECRL are Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang?
“All three are not under PH. Is this an extension of (Prime Minister Tun Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad’s) policy of punishing opposition states, like he had done during his former 22-year tenure as prime minister?”
Najib claimed that Kelantan was denied basic access and rights to utilities and infrastructure such as sewerage, roads and highways during Dr Mahathir’s first tenure as prime minister.
He said during his own nine-year tenure as prime minister, things were different as he had channelled billions of ringgit to assist Penang, Selangor and Kelantan in their water restructuring exercises.
Najib said he ensured that Kelantan received more funding for basic infrastructure projects while drawing on the nearly completed toll-free Central Spine Road project.