It is the duty of the government to provide facilities to the rakyat without adding on to their burden, PKR treasurer-general Tan Yee Kew said in a response to Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak.

Salleh posted in his blog yesterday that the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project was a “gift” from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to the people.

“Is Salleh unable to differentiate between a gift and the responsibility of a ruling government to the people?” Tan questioned in a statement today.

She pointed out that the 51km Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line costs a lavish RM21 billion and that the country’s coffers are filled from taxes on the people, such as the GST.

“(So) don’t say the MRT project is a gift,” Tan said.

The truth is, she added, the public transportation system in rural areas is still unsatisfactory.

Tan also questioned why Salleh did not suggest another ‘gift’ like the MRT for the people of Sabah.

“Just look at what era of trains they still have there,” she said.

The real "gifts" from the Umno-BN government, Tan said, are the “cruel” GST and the 1MDB scandal plaguing the country, causing the rakyat to bear a higher cost of living.

The Umno-BN government, she claimed, is making the rakyat suffer for the luxury of its leaders.

Najib had yesterday launched the full Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line, announcing a 50 percent discount on fares until Merdeka Day.

He had also said that the project was completed ahead of schedule as the contracts were not awarded to “cronies”.