PAS blasts Adnan’s debt theory, repeats bankruptcy warning
By Harakah Daily
PAS has blasted Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob’s explanation that the state’s huge debt of RM2.17 billion was ‘normal’.
Pahang PAS commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Adnan should instead be concerned over the continuous increase of state debt owed to Federal government.
“The state government’s revenue is only at RM532 million whereas the operating cost (for 2011) is already RM600 million, and development fund is set at RM270 million bringing the total budget to RM871 million.
“This means the extra RM300 million is dependent on loan from the Federal government,” said Tuan Ibrahim, repeating fears that the state government’s debt had not been remedied by its 2011 budget and would therefore continue to rise.
Adnan attempted to deny allegations that the state government would be bankrupt, saying it had suffered only two deficit budgets to date.
Several quarters including PAS had earlier cited its 13th consecutive deficit budget and warned of its continuing rise in debt.
Tuan Ibrahim said the ratio between the state government’s revenue and debt was now more than 200 percent, citing that Greece was declared bankrupt when the debt of country was more than 100 percent of its GDP (gross domestic product).
Car number plates and surau signboard
Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the PAS vice president and director of the party’s election machinery in the Kerdau by-election, attributed Pahang’s failure to increase revenue to Adnan’s poor management and financial control.
“For example, the state government was willing to spend the people’s money to buy the car plate CCC9 at the price of RM48,000,” he said.
Adnan, who paid a whopping RM48,000 for the MB’s car number plate CCC9, had in 2007 brushed aside critics, saying the sum was not a wastage.
“Where got waste? The money goes from government to government. It’s not for Adnan Yaakob (but) for the government,” he was reported as saying.
