Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin ticked off the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim today for alleging that the country was on the verge of bankruptcy.

"We are in fact flushed with funds. Last year for example the Inland Revenue Board managed to collect RM125 billion as income for the country. This has never been done before.

"We are thus in a very strong financial position. We also manage our finance very well. None of our civil servants have yet been denied their salary," he said when addressing over 5,000 people at a meet-the-people session held at the Civic Centre, in Sarikei, today.

NONE Anwar, he said, was spreading lies simply to discredit the BN government, especially now, since the election is around the corner.

Muhyiddin added that through the extra funds, the people can expect more development programmes for their benefit and particularly in education for Sabah and Sarawak.

"The BN government is infact a people-centred government and very caring to the people, contrary to yet again another lie spread by Anwar. We are also focused on eradicating poverty among the people, something that we have done a long time ago. And now we have achieved very big success in this aspect," he said.

'Obesity now the norm'

Muhyiddin said no Malaysian had died of starvation but rather obesity is the norm because of too much good food available, so much so that it has turned into a major problem among students in schools nationwide.

He said at the national level, poverty rate was only three per cent while in Sarawak it stands at only four to five per cent.

"We have programmes like e-kasih where we keep data of the hardcore poor and the kind of aid that we give to them. We have about 45,000 households classified as hardcore poor.

NONE "The success of e-kasih has even been acknowledged by the United Nations because not many countries in the world, even the most advanced, are doing this," he said.

Muhyiddin said the BN government would continue with the agenda of helping the people and ensuring the country becomes prosperous, united and stable with the support of the people, regardless of race or religion.

"The general election is the best opportunity for the people to say they want it to continue and to achieve more.

"The choice is in your hands. Please once again give your full mandate to BN under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak," he said.

At the function, he announced a grant of RM45 million for the construction of the Bukit Kuang-Tanjung Manis Road, including a bridge.

- Bernama