Pakatan Rakyat has challenged BN to a public debate on the viability of the former's election manifesto.

The coalition said that its policies will save RM49.5 billion, which will be used to finance many expensive plans outlined in the election pledge.

They said that the savings will come from curbing corruption, prudent spending and increasing government revenue by spurring economic development.

Three Pakatan Rakyat leaders who are tasked with debating BN are PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli, PAS central committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad and DAP international secretary Liew Chin Tong.

“We defend that the country would not go bankrupt following the policies which will be implemented by Pakatan should it win Putrajaya, and challenge any BN leaders to a debate.

"We even challenge Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to debate against Anwar Ibrahim on this,” they said in a press conference today.

Rafizi, in presenting the plan, said that the federal government's revenue for this year is expected to be RM206.4 billion, and that based on the Selangor Pakatan government's experience in saving costs on roads between January to September 2012 by 24 percent, we are confident that RM49.5 billion can be saved through this method.

"This is achievable through the three strategies outlined, that is fighting corruption, prudent and prioritising spending, and a raise in government revenue by spurring economic development," he said.

Abolish tolls to save more

Rafizi said that part of the expenditure which Pakatan will incur from the savings, includes the abolition of tolls on the North-South Expressway (Plus), which is expected to cost about RM6 billion annually.

He said that the other toll concessionaires would soon follow suit, adding that the Plus highway has the highest cost as compared to the other highway concessionaires.

"The Plus highway is the costliest as it had been refinanced - for unknown reasons - for RM30 billion. If Pakatan managed to resolve the Plus highway issue, we can certainly resolve the issue with the other toll concessionaires.

"With the abolition of tolls, motorists and the public could save more," he said.

He said that another RM5 billion will be spent on aiding the National Housing scheme to provide the people with affordable housing.

Another RM2.4 billion will be allocated on the special allowances for teachers, RM12.5 billion for the oil royalty, RM3 billion for the National Women's fund, RM3 billion for senior citizens, RM2 billion to assist small- and medium-enterprises in implementing the minimum wage, and RM1 billion to the apprentice scheme.

In addition, RM150 million for the additional five percent deposits into the Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) fund, another RM6 billion allocated to abolish the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN), and also provide free education for all.

Rafizi noted that among the moves made by Pakatan includes providing free education up to the tertiary level in public universities and reducing car prices by having an open tender for approved permits to bring in foreign vehicles.