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Anwar-Najib debate: Basic needs vs mega projects

KUALA LUMPUR: The country's future, especially in regard to its economy and the well-being of the public, took centre stage in the second round of the debate between former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

While Najib said megaprojects would help the people's economy since it could generate millions of job opportunities, Anwar argued that the country must first focus on the basic necessities for the people.

"Basic things like water are still not resolved but we want to do mega projects. The quality of our education now is low, we can't even compete.

"If the projects can provide direct benefits to the people then we can consider it but it must begin with the issue of integrity. If the value of the project is actually RM50 billion, don't up it to RM70 billion," Anwar said.

Najib then said the mega projects would invite more investors and this would result in the country having a "bigger cake to share", adding that this would benefit Malaysians.

He said if the country had continued the goods and services tax (GST), the government would now have at least RM30 billion which he said could have been used to help the people during the global Covid-19 pandemic.

"We must widen our cake, not sell our assets, just sell everything. During our (Barisan Nasional's) time, fishermen received RM300 monthly.

"With GST (collection), we gave subsidies to farmers and fishermen. The way to elevate the country is by adding assets, not reducing it," he said.

To a question by moderator Haslina Kamaluddin on Malaysians' readiness to face inflation expected around mid this year, the two former finance ministers, however, replied to other matters.

Anwar took a jibe at Najib saying that the "cake" must be distributed fairly while questioning the mechanism to determine who should get a fair share of the profits.

"If there is a cake, don't eat it alone. Who will determine that the distribution will be fair? What we are seeing now is that the elites are getting everything.

"And yes, while GST is an efficient system, it is not suitable now because the people are not doing well. How can we step on them when they are already struggling?

"Although some said Pakatan Harapan has weaknesses, PH was more successful in addressing the cost of living issues. Just look at the chicken price in 2019 and the price now."

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