KUALA LIPIS, April 25 — All the development and success of the country now enjoyed by the people are the result of efficient government management and administration and did not fall into the people’s laps as assumed by certain quarters, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The prime minister said the strengthening of the national economy also ensured the continuation of every government agenda and plan and their implementation within the stipulated period.
He also said that the Barisan Nasional government ensured that the management of the country was carried out in a responsible manner and not on the premise of gaining popularity and electoral votes.
“If we do not manage the country responsibly, how can the interior areas such as Merapoh and Kampung Kubang Rusa enjoy world-class highway facilities as they do today?
“These facilities exist because the government sees to it that every plan is implemented in an inclusive manner and touches the lives of every level of society,” he said at the opening of a section of the Central Spine Road, between Merapoh and Kampung Kubang Rusa, Lipis, here today.
The prime minister said that if Malaysia was indeed a failed state as claimed by certain quarters, how could the 14-km stretch of road be developed at a cost of RM140.69 million and completed ahead of schedule, which saved the government RM35 million.
Referring to the Opposition manifesto for the 14th general election which, among others, proposed the abolition of all road toll within 100 days if it came to power, Najib said it clearly reflected the irresponsible attitude of the Opposition because the national debt then would rise to RM1 trillion.
“The national debt now stands at RM680 billion or 50.8 per cent of the GDP. If RM380 billion is added to it following the abolition of toll, the national debt can rise to RM1 trillion and this will be bad for the country and the generations to come.
“Such is an irresponsible policy. As such, no international organisation has praised the manifesto of the Opposition unlike the recognition accorded to the BN manifesto,” he said.
Najib said the people should not be fooled by the false promises of the Opposition because they could not be implemented and added that it was strange that an individual regarded as the ‘father of tolls’ had promised to abolish the levy.
On the Merapoh-Kampung Kubang Rusa stretch of the Central Spine Road, Najib said the opening of the four-lane dual carriageway had resulted in the completion of 45 per cent of the 350-km CSR from Kuala Krai, Kelantan, to Simpang Pelangai, Pahang, to be built at a cost of RM6.6 billion.
The prime minister praised the quality of the construction of the highway, saying it matched the highway construction in Switzerland and Germany with the use of the latest technology.
He said the Public Works Department (JKR) had erected a flyover at a cost of RM40 million especially to ensure that the movement of wildlife was unaffected by the highway.
Najib, who is Barisan Nasional chairman, said the list of candidates for the Pahang parliamentary and state seats in the 14th general election had been finalised and handed over to the menteri besar for announcement tomorrow. — Bernama
