Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak turned his Budget 2013 speech into a Pakatan-bashing session in a pre-election campaign oratorio, saying BN has never promised “the moon and stars”, unlike the opposition.

“This government has never promised the moon, the stars or the galaxy. We have never painted a pretty picture based on wishful thinking.

NONE “As a responsible government, we continue to speak the truth, even though it may be unpleasant. We have never misled the rakyat with tall tales,” Najib said in Parliament today in the opening of his speech.

Saving the best lines for the grand finale, the PM at the end of his budget revelations sang praises of BN’s Janji Ditepati (Promises Fulfilled) and took every opportunity to slam the Pakatan for promising what he said they would not deliver.

“If today they make promises, the rakyat must ask why is this leadership, while in power, did not take any action.

“When they had the opportunity, and did not implement what they promised, what guarantee is there that they will fulfil promises when they are in power?

NONE “Wasn’t it during the Asian financial crisis that the country was almost destroyed? And today, in the states that are administered by them, their manifestos contain only promises.

“Can they be trusted when in power?” Najib asked a raucous floor, with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim seen laughing, possibly to the reference to the latter’s tenure as former finance minister from 1991 to 1998.

The Asian financial crisis of 1997 took place under Anwar’s watch at a time when former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad was helming the BN government.

During the roughly two-hour speech, Najib, who is also finance minister and acting women's minister, alluded to Pakatan's promise to abolish the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan twice.

"As we are aware, there are parties that propose to abolish the overall PTPTN debt. This action is deemed irresponsible.

"If abolished, who shall bear the outstanding debt of PTPTN amounting to RM30 billion? Would it not be the rakyat who will be burdened?

"Is it an act of responsibility if we are the borrowers, but the rakyat are the ones who have to pay?" Najib said.  

‘Janji ditepati’ hammered home

In his theatrical pre-election monologue, Najib admitted that Pakatan had every right to aspire to take over Putrajaya.

“We are aware that there are parties requesting to be given a chance to form the next government.

NONE “In a democratic country, we understand that they too have their rights. It is the rakyat who ultimately decides who will be given the mandate through the ballot box.

However the PM soon took another swipe at his foe saying, “We recognise that the Barisan Nasional government is not without fault, but what differentiates us from others is that they do not have the courage to accept mistakes.

“On the other hand, they make excuses and to find fault in others.”

Repeating the theme of keeping promises throughout the closing, Najib questioned Pakatan’s ability to keep theirs.

“In trying to win, they are willing to do anything but when they win, all their promises will be forgotten,” he charged.

‘Six more BN budgets’

The PM even quoted Plato saying, “The measure of a man is what he does with power. There are parties who are willing to sacrifice everything simply for the sake of power.

“The BN government is guided by fastabiqul khairat (striving to do good) as written in the Al-Quran that I had recited earlier, which is to do good.

"The parties on the other side are guided by the ‘ fastabiqul fasad ’ (striving to do ill) that is they will not hesitate to do bad,” he said.

Blaming the opposition for “sowing seeds of conflict and hate” and claiming BN had been unfairly accused of wrongdoings at Pakatan’s “whims and fancy”, Najib ended his impassioned battlecry with repeated pleas for the people to vote BN back into power.

“The new budget that I have tabled for 2013 is the last budget before the 13th general election.

"This is among six more budgets that will propel this beloved nation towards achieving the national vision.”

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