IPOH, April 1- Malaysia’s eonomic performance at the time when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the finance minister and now was different as there was no global economic crisis then, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said today.
“During Anwar’s time, nobody talked about creative economy, innovation and value management like now.
“Twenty years ago, our country’s economy was different than now. We’re facing the most challenging time now in the world economy history since the economic crisis in 1933.
“For how long we’ve been facing the economic crisis, suddenly we see England registering zero economic growth. Imagine, the EU (European Union), Greece and Portugal posting 0.3 per cent economic growth and even Singapore 1.2 per cent,” he told rsporters when asked to comment on the Malaysia’s economic performance when Anwar was the finance minister, with the country recording higher economic growth and lower debt than now.
Ahmad Husni said foreign countries were keen to learn from Malaysia for posting good economic growth as they were grappling in serious economic crisis.
“For instance, Tanzania has asked us to open a laboratory to study how we successfully implemented the Economic Transformation Programme.
“Senior officials from the American and British governments came to Malaysia to learn from us,” he said. On the opposition’s manifesto, Ahmad Husni urged the people not to be hoodwinked by their sweet promises.
“To develop a country, there must be development planning. In Malaysia’s context, we’ve been doing five-year development planning.
“When we read the opposition’s manifesto, it’s just a propaganda. A propaganda to make promises to the people particularly to senior citizens and women.
“If the manifesto is implemented, the country’s needs to borrow substantial amoung of money that will raise the fiscal deficit to 11.5 per cent and the debt ratio to the gross domestic product will spiral to 62.1 per cent,” he said. On tax revenue, Ahmad Husni said collection had touched RM122.8 billion from last year’s RM109 billion and RM80 billion in 2010.
“This means, we’ve the means to implement more development such as building roads, schools and providing financial aid to the people. These initiatives are going on well,” he added.
Earlier, Ahmad Husni, who is also Tambun Member of Parliament, handed an approval letter to build a new surau at Taman Meru 2C, here.
BERNAMA
