“It’s easy when we want to spend the money that we don’t have,” is what former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said when asked to comment on the tabling of the alternative Budget by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.

It was reported that Pakatan Rakyat would table its annual budget today, three days ahead of the federal government's 2012 Budget.

The opposition coalition’s budget is described as an alternative budget to the Budget to be tabled by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Parliament on Friday. Najib is also finance minister.

NONE “It’s always easy to spend the money that is not under our control. We can do anything, (like) promising to give 20 percent oil royalty.

“Yes, we can make the promise as we are not the government. Make promises,  so long you win the elections.

“It is common, even (US President Barack) Obama promised to close Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, but until now the detention centre has not been closed yet. But he was elected,” Mahathir told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the 8th Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum 2011 today.

Mahathir also served as finance minister when he was the prime minister for 22 years.

Fishing for votes

Some lawmakers also regard Pakatan Rakyat's shadow budget as impractical and an exercise to fish for votes.

NONE Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar ( left ) said the opposition's promise to give more subsidies and allocations to the people showed that they did not understand the subsidies given by the government.

"We've already given a lot of subsidies...for sugar, rice, fuel...It's just that we're not carrying out promotions on what we've done. So the people feel like they're not getting any aid from the government," he said at the Parliament lobby.

Noh, who is also Tanjung Karang MP, said all the promises made by the opposition were just propaganda.

He believes the people are smart enough in judging the opposition's tactics and administration of the states they won in the last general election in 2008.

"In Selangor, they have promised a lot of things but fail to fulfil. They should have helped the people a bit but have not kept their promises made in their manifesto.

"The opposition need to be practical too. It's not easy (to rule). Najib (prime minister) is realistic. He will say what he can fulfil and not just in theory to please his listeners," Noh said.

 Misuse of power

Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said the promises made by the opposition pact could be considered as bribery and misuse of power.

"They will say things just to please the people. If we look at the government's budget as a whole, many areas have been given priority.

"To me, they (opposition) are teaching the people to practise corruption. You want to favour yourself by making promises. This is unethical," he said.

He also regarded them as desperadoes due to pressure from various issues confronting them, especially Anwar, in reference to the opposition leader's sex scandals.

NONE "When people are desperate, they can make all kinds of promises. You need to see first whether they are practical or not," he said.

Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Fadillah Yusof ( right ) said the opposition's shadow budget was merely a political gimmick by making sweet promises before coming into power.

"From where are they going to get the money? It's just a political gimmick, that's why they can promise anything. But do they know how they're going to raise the RM220 billion?

"The promise of prosperity has actually been fulfilled by BN since it ruled the country. Before they (opposition) can rule, they've already come up with the budget, which should actually be drawn up when they come into power.

"We (BN government) know how the money is to be spent as the money is already there," he said.

- Be

rnama

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