SHAH ALAM, 8 Jan: The former Chief Editor of the New Straits Times Press Group (NSTP), Abdul Kadir Jasin, slammed the Prime Minister, Dtuk Seri Najib Razak, for vacationing overseas for two consecutive years when the people face the increasing cost of living.
He said that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, under the leadership of Najib, broke the promises made during the 13th General Election (GE13) to not increase the price of goods and services.
“It is not the people who promised and pledged to not raise prices, but it was Najib and his election war room planners. Now who is the one breaking promises?
“What is my mistake, I, and anyone, criticise Najib and his advisers, who are worth billions of ringgit,” he said in a recent blog post.
He did not agree with some quarters who snarled at him for criticising Najib about the management of the economy.
“I think that the critics did not read my repeated “advice” to Najib and the government through this blog as well as writing in other places about the management of the economy, the currency and taxation.
“When we discussed the issue of the economy, many people do not care or are easily bored. But if it is not discussed, they would say that we only know how to criticise,” he said.
He said, since 2006, when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s government made drastic cuts in petroleum subsidies, it caused the price of oil and gas to increase dramatically, in addition to the price of goods and services.
He wrote several articles, reminding the government about the adverse effects of the action and how to reduce the burden of the people.
“It is not my job to give detailed guidance to the government on economic management. It is the task of ministries, department, agencies and the many great and famous advisors of the Prime Minister.
“My job is to provide feedback and criticism. Unfortunately, some regard the critics as opposition and this is the result when the people do not think critically, coupled with an extreme partisan attitude,” he said.
Kadir said that the problems faced by the country are not just the negative effects of the subsidy rationalisation, but there are many other issues and problems that are worrisome.
“We have to continue asking and criticising, but is there are those who feel it is wrong because they love the Prime Minister so much, I think we should not bother to hold elections to choose a government.
“We can just destroy democracy and appoint the existing government as the rulers forever and leave it at that,” he said.
