Malaysian Chinese Association

PETALING JAYA: The Finance Ministry should not be used to launch attacks against political foes, says MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.

With the Cameron Highlands by-election now entering the countdown stage, he said the Pakatan Harapan government, especially the DAP leadership, is resorting to political trickeries in an attempt to win the polls.

“Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng made another preposterous politically charged statement, claiming that the Pahang government owed the federal government RM3.2bil, and used it to mislead the Cameron Highlands electorate into believing that the Pahang government was unable to carry out sustainable development,” Ti said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 24).

Ti was referring to Lim's statement, where he pointed out that it has been in deficit for the past four years.

"Due to poor financial management, the Pahang state government isn't capable of fulfilling its debt obligation with the federal government, which is the highest among all states in Malaysia," said Lim.

Lim had also questioned whether the Pahang government will be able to implement sustainable development with the highest debt in Malaysia, which is RM3.2bil at the end of 2018, and annual budget deficit with the accumulated deficit of RM228mil at the end of 2017.

Ti said it is grossly unfair for the Finance Minister, whose duty is to diligently manage the national economy, to stoop low beneath his ministry by subjecting the ministry to play the role of a Pakatan agency launching attacks against political foes.

During the by-election, he said that Pakatan had abused the use of four-wheel drive vehicles owned by the Forestry Department, and the Attorney General’s Chamber suddenly sued the Kelantan government on behalf of the orang asli community, under the pretext of defending Kelantan aboriginals’ land rights.

“What about the fishing villagers who protested in Penang, Melaka and Selangor on developments that are affecting their livelihoods and disrupting their lives? Why single out the opposition-ruled state of Pahang during a by-election?” he questioned.

Ti said people chose Pakatan in the general election hoping that it will bring about good governance and just management of government resources.

The rakyat were looking forward to a better, fairer and level government, he said.

“Now, in just eight months, Pakatan repeatedly used and abused their powers in breach of promises made, and betrayed the principles they preached,” he added.

According to Ti, the Pakatan government’s “combative DNA” has also extended to increasing hostility with friendly neighbours, China and Singapore.

He said this had greatly affected diplomatic ties and international trade.
He said the strained relationship with Singapore had dampened the trade of Cameron Highlands vegetables and floral products, and this has negatively affected the livelihood of farmers there.

“The rakyat and the voters in Cameron Highlands must use this coming Jan 26 by-election to send a clear message to Pakatan to manage their powers with wisdom for the benefit of the rakyat and country,” he said.

Ti added that the rakyat did not put them in power to watch them used their powers to gain more power which will be detrimental to the “check and balance” requirements.

-The Star-