Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar has accused the opposition of resorting to fear-mongering tactics to mask their inability to offer concrete policy solutions for the nation.
The former Pokok Sena Member of Parliament compared the strategies used by Perikatan Nasional (PN) to the traditional practice of scaring children with ghost stories to prevent them from staying out late.
Speaking at a ceramah in Penang last night, he noted that while the opposition accuses the government of failure on a daily basis, they have yet to propose a single policy solution to provide relief to the public.
Allegations of fear-based politics
Mahfuz claimed that instead of constructive engagement, the opposition continues to promote fear-based narratives, including allegations that the country is leaning disproportionately towards China.
He further argued that the shortcomings of state governments under PN administration are becoming increasingly evident.
He cited the unresolved water supply issues related to the Sungai Limau water treatment plant in Kedah as a prime example of mismanagement that eventually required federal intervention.
Additionally, he pointed to the ongoing political instability in Perlis as further evidence of the opposition’s internal challenges in governing effectively.
Defense of Madani government initiatives
Defending the performance of the Madani government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Mahfuz highlighted several key achievements aimed at easing the burden on the people.
These include two separate increases in the floor price for padi and the decision to maintain the RON95 petrol subsidy at the affordable rate of RM1.99 per litre.
He emphasized that while the government has never promised an effortless existence, it remains committed to supporting those who are struggling.
Mahfuz also questioned the consistency of the opposition’s criticism regarding welfare assistance. He reminded the audience that under the previous administration, the prices of essential items like eggs and chicken rose sharply.
He expressed frustration that despite the current provision of Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) assistance, the opposition continues to find fault with the government’s efforts.
Federal rescue of stalled projects
The necessity of federal involvement was underscored yesterday by deputy energy transition and water transformation minister Akmal Nasrullah Nasir, who confirmed that the federal government is expected to allocate an additional RM50 million to rescue the stalled Sungai Limau project in Baling.
The original contract for the nearly RM100 million project was terminated last year after it recorded only 15% to 20% progress before construction came to a complete halt.
As a result, the federal government has been forced to take over the management of the project to ensure that the critical water infrastructure is eventually completed for the benefit of the local community.
