We want Najib to answer as finance minister....

Anwar Ibrahim has tossed aside the invitation from Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin for a debate, saying that the Rembau parliamentarian is far from qualified to face him.

"He wants to save the Premier Najib Razak. But the challenge is to Najib. We want the PM to answer as finance minister.

"This issue is a financial issue, not for a parliamentarian who is about to retire," said Anwar in a press conference after chairing the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council meeting in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

Anwar, who is also Permatang Pauh MP, also insisted that Najib agree to a debate in order to allow the public to decide on the merits of the Pakatan 100-days plan, dubbed the 'Orange Book'.

"We have our arguments backed up by economic experts but Najib said that we are irresponsible and may lead to the nation into bankruptcy.

"He said we should let the rakyat judge. In order for the rakyat to judge, then the issue must be discussed in the open. This will allow us to state our case and BN and Umno to have their say," argued the opposition leader.

He added that the Pakatan leadership had agreed that he should continue to pursue a debate with the premier, agreeing to meet any conditions that the Najib may have for it to take place. The federal opposition coalition had promised in its convention last month that it would offer teachers an additional RM500 allowance per month, eliminate toll charges on highways and maintain subsidies on fuel.

In defending PR’s 100-day reform promises, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had touted his administration as proof that the initiative would not bankrupt government coffers. He said that since PR took over Penang in 2008, it had executed various welfare programmes but still achieved record budget surpluses.

Anwar had also defended the plan by stating that it would only cost RM19 billion and that would come from stamping out corruption. Lim echoed this sentiment by claiming that Penang had hit a record RM88 million surplus in 2008 and RM77 million in 2009 through “the dividends of anti-corruption” measures.

Anwar noted today that PR would go ahead with its plans to distribute its “buku jingga” (orange book) which underlines its 100-day reforms promises across the nation within the month. He announced that the pact would also hold a special convention to discuss economic issues this March.

source:malaysiakini

Baca 'Khairy,Nazri bukan tandingan Anwar' di sini.

cheers.