Pakatan’s policies returning to bygone era, says Najib

ASKING not to be interrupted in his first speech as Opposition MP, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has accused Pakatan Harapan of adopting “regressive policies” since coming into power.

“If we look at the policies of the new Government, are we returning to a bygone era with their New Malaysia?” the former prime minister said when debating the motion of thanks on the Royal Address.

The Barisan Nasional Pekan MP cited several government plans which the PKR reformation movement had initially been against such as the lowering of income for civil servants, the introduction of more cars on the roads instead of improving public transport and increased subsidies.

PKR is one of the component parties in Pakatan.

“I want to inform the House that prices have stabilised without the abolition of the Goods and Services Tax.

“I assure you that there will be another round of price hikes when the Sales and Service Tax is implemented on Sept 1,” he said.

Earlier, Najib had asked under Standing Order 37 for no interruptions as he “was short of time”.

However, this did not stop R.S.N. Rayer (PHJelutong) from demanding an explanation on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) controversy amid jeers from other MPs.

However, Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof reminded Rayer to observe House rules.

In the lobby, Najib denied having any knowledge of a letter that was purportedly sent to the US Central Intelligence Agency by a division under his department before the 14th General Election.

“The letter was written by the agency (Prime Minister’s Department Research Division). Whether they wrote the letter or not, you need to ask them,” he said.

Earlier, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had called for an investigation into the threepage letter, which supposedly sought support for Najib just a few days before the May 9 polls.

EDUCATION Minister Maszlee Malik has promised that the Finance Ministry will now look into funding for Chinese independent schools, a day after a written reply stating that there would be no such monies.

Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong questioned the ministry’s flip-flop over funding for the 60 Chinese independent schools.

“The official parliamentary written reply given by the ministry on Wednesday was that independent schools would not be funded as they are not within the education system.

“This contradicts what was promised by DAP secertary-general Lim Guan Eng, which is that the Pakatan Harapan Government would provide funding for the Chinese independent schools when voted in,” he told reporters.

Yesterday, he said Dr Maszlee issued a statement saying it was holding discussions with the Finance Ministry to provide funding.

“Why is he saying that the ministry is considering the matter now instead of including this in his written reply a day earlier?” Dr Wee said.

The statement on the funding for the schools was apparently issued only in Chinese, with no Malay or English versions.

His deputy Teo Nie Ching posted the statement on her Facebook page and confirmed it to be true.

In Dr Wee’s question, he had asked the ministry to state the status of the Unified Examination Certificate and funds for Chinese independent schools.

Dr Maszlee’s statement had come after criticism by two Perak DAP lawmakers.