Stop being an ‘absentee PM’, Kit Siang tells Najib
Datuk Seri Najib Razak should stop being an "absentee PM" and focus on the various economic challenges in Malaysia including falling oil and commodity prices, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said today.
The Gelang Patah MP said the prime minister should declare a national economic crisis, form a bipartisan Council for National Economic Salvation and summon an emergency Parliament session to discuss economic issues.
"First, the prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should stop being an 'absentee PM'.
"Secondly, he should declare a national economic crisis to rally all Malaysians to focus on the multiple economic challenges facing the country, now that Malaysia is regarded as Southeast Asia’s weakest spot with the multiple plunge of forex and equity markets, as well as the current slide in prices of global crude oil and other commodities," Lim said at a forum in Johor Baru today.
He said Najib should also form a bipartisan Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat Council for National Economic Salvation.
"Najib should be a prime minister for all Malaysians, and not for any one race, religion or region.
"As such, he should steer clear of politics and policies of exclusion and extremism and advocate politics and policies of inclusion and moderation, where every Malaysian, regardless of race, religion, region, gender, age or even political party, can unite on a common platform to save the country from the looming economic crisis.
"Pakatan Rakyat parties and leaders are prepared to respond positively in any national emergency and co-operate with the prime minister and the Umno/Barisan Nasional government for the sake of national interests, transcending party and individual interests," Lim said in a statement issued after the forum.
He said as 30% of the country's spending relied on oil, the sharp decline in international crude oil prices has completely knocked off-kilter the 2014 and 2015 Budgets, which had been based on crude oil price levels of US$110 per barrel in 2014 and US$105 for 2015.
"Najib should summon an emergency meeting of Parliament by the middle or end of January, to deal with the fast-developing and deteriorating economic situation instead of waiting for the scheduled Parliamentary meeting on March 9.
"The bipartisan BN-PR National Economic Salvation Council should be tasked with the responsibility to present to the emergency meeting of Parliament a blueprint which could rally all Malaysians to unite and face up to the economic crisis facing the country," he said.
The prime minister has yet to comment on falling oil prices and a slide in the ringgit value against major currencies although other ministers and deputy ministers have said Malaysia will not be affected much as exports will be cheaper. – December 17, 2014.
