Barisan Nasional leaders dismissed the alternative budget drafted by the opposition as a mere strategy to gain political mileage.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim likened the 'presentation' of the Barisan Alternatif's budget at the Parliament's meeting room yesterday to "cooking in someone else's oil".

"They (opposition) made the presentation based on whose money? It is money owned by the Barisan Nasional government. They cannot make suggestions on how to use the money," Rais, who is also de facto law minister, told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

"The budget is the opposition's way of gaining political visibility," he said.

The second budget unveiled by BA the first was in 1999 precedes Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's presentation by three days.

Universiti Malaya economic professor, Dr KS Jomo, unveiled the budget to an audience of about 80 members from the opposition and non-governmental organisations.

This year's budget, named the 3Ks kemakmuran, keadilan, kesejahteraan (prosperity, justice, well-being) came with statistics, charts and detailed information on the current economic situation.

It was formulated as the opposition's way of giving the government 'a run for its money' as Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also acting finance minister, is due to announce the government's budget in Parliament on Friday.

'Nothing to do'

Donald Lim (BN-Petaling Jaya Selatan) said the opposition presented their budget because they "had nothing to do".

However, Lim said that the BA should consider whether the country's overall financial resources can be sustained if proposals in their budget are implemented.

"Anyway, it is not [their responsibility] to present the budget. It's the government's role to do so as the BN was selected by the people to represent them. We are the ruling party," added Lim who is parliamentary secretary to the Transport Ministry.

Husni Hanadzlah (BN-Tambun) derided the BA budget as 'propaganda' and said its use of the word "budget" could mislead the public.

"It is not a budget. The world will laugh at them if they say it is a budget. They do not know the real meaning of budget. Where are they going to get the money for their proposed expenditure?" he queried.

"It is actually just a comment from their perspective on how the economy should be conducted and has nothing to do with intellectualism," he added.

Husni, known for his ardour for debating in Parliament on bills concerning the economy, said that commenting and actually implementing and managing the economy are "two different things".

He criticised the opposition for being "irresponsible" in presenting the budget, saying that they should have proposed budgets for Kelantan and Terengganu first as the two states are under their control.

"But they are running those two states like a political party, conducting ceramah every day to indoctrinate the people that they do not need development," he said.

"Their comments are based on their (anti-development) mentality. If they govern the country, the nation will be backward.

"Kelantan and Terengganu are already backward, don't make the nation backward too," he said.

Good feedback

Meanwhile, Keadilan secretary-general Sahri Bahri, in defence of the opposition's move, said the alternative budget was part of the front's political responsibilities and a citizen's initiative to present their idea of the budget even before the government does.

He said the budget has gotten positive feedback from the public.

"Everyone has a right to propose and make suggestions, even people on the streets, what more political parties," Sahri said.

On what they hope to be the outcome of the shadow budget, he said, "We don't mind Mahathir adopting the strategies and measures that we have proposed as it benefits the rakyat. If the finance ministry wants to accept our suggestions, by all means, go ahead."