BUDGET 2018 | Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak shot yet another stinger at the opposition in Budget 2018, attacking their alleged inconsistency on policy matters.

Najib said the opposition at first wanted to abolish the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M).

Similarly, he said they wanted to abolish the goods and services tax (GST), but now want to zero-rate it while reintroducing the sales and services tax.

"They want to cut this tax and that tax...want to get rid of PTPTN but now want it back; reintroduce fuel subsidies, but now are moving towards targetted subsidies.

"To quote the whites, the only thing consistent with the opposition is that they are continuously inconsistent.

"What we always hear, (they are) always making U-turns, U-turns, and more U-turns... all of it makes the rakyat confused."

Najib said the opposition should stop turning the issue of GST into a political polemic, adding that it has been instrumental in aiding the country's economy amid a revenue crunch.

"It was GST that became the saviour of the economy this year.

"Without the collection of RM41 billion in GST, I cannot imagine how the country would foot the expenditure required for the people," he said.

Najib had repeatedly questioned how the opposition intended to deal with the revenue shortfall if their plan to abolish the GST came to fruition.

Addressing the criticism, the opposition in its alternative budget released two days ago provided hard figures on how it planned to do away with the GST.

BN leaders had criticised the alternative budget as unrealistic, but Harapan insisted that it could be achieved.

Malaysiakini's Budget 2018 microsite

I've got a friend in Zahid, says Najib in emphasising loyalty

PM presents populist budget targeting voters ahead of polls

Shouts of 'kleptocracy' ring out as Najib ends speech on fiery note

Higher payout of RM1,500 for civil servants in Budget 2018

Budget to provide RM3.5b for bumiputera empowerment

Gov't abolishes four tolls in Selangor, Kedah, Johor

Penang landslide: PM cites poem by DAP MP

Lower income tax for those making RM20k to RM70k

Opposition is consistently inconsistent, Najib says

PM praises 'chicken entrepreneur Kak Wan', Harapan's feathers ruffled