‘No economic growth without infra-rakyat’
KANGAR: The economy will not grow if “infra-rakyat” (infrastructure for the people) is not well implemented, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
He said when the economy continues to grow well, the government will be able to implement not just infra-rakyat but also provide employment for the people and subsidies for the needy.
“If the economy does not grow, we cannot provide employment opportunities to the thousands graduating annually from public institutions of higher learning such as Universiti Malaysia Perlis.
“If the economy does not grow, how can we provide subsidies in the education and health sectors and meet the expenditure for all public servants?” he said when speaking at the official opening of the Perlis Urban Transformation Centre.
Najib, who is on a one-day visit to Perlis, was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
They were welcomed by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Treasury secretarygeneral Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah and thousands of people.
Referring to the national debt, Najib, who is also finance minister, said it was at a manageable level and that the money had been spent on infrastructure development for the benefit and well-being of the people.
There might be talk that the national debt is too huge but the fact remains that the opposite is true, he said.
“This is because we have capped it at 55% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Our national debt is only at 50.8% of the GDP.
“Singapore, Japan and Italy have much bigger debts. But that’s not the gauge because it is more important that we have the ability to repay.
“Of our debt, 98% is in ringgit but we have the ability to repay,” he said.
Najib also announced that 500 houses would be built soon under the Kangar People’s Housing Programme at a cost of RM78 million to help the people who cannot afford to own a house. – Bernama