PERMATANG PAUH BY-ELECTION: We will review maga projects, says Anwar - Sun

Aug 19, 2008 by Giam Say Khoon

SEBERANG PERAI:

Mega projects which do not benefit the people will be reviewed or cancelled if and when the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) takes over the federal government, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

He said projects involving high costs and are not people-oriented will be stopped but those that benefit the people will continue.

"The Barisan Nasional (government) will only allow projects that benefit its cronies and family members and this has affected our economic growth and caused hardship to the people," the Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser and candidate in the Permatang Pauh by-election told reporters after launching his campaign slogan "The nation does not belong to Umno or BN but the people".

"The prices of goods are increasing but still the BN announced a RM15 billion project to develop broadband. We question the cost because it is extremely high.

"This shows we have Umno leaders who ignore the difficulties faced by the people."

Asked what projects would be reviewed, Anwar named, as an example, the double-tracking and undersea cable projects.

Asked whether the projects awarded by BN leaders to their family members will be reviewed, he said: "Is this legitimate? This cannot be accepted."

Anwar also commented on other issues:

>> Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan being at the Jawi office today.
Anwar said: "He (Saiful) was ordered to go and see Jawi after one month of evasion."

Asked if the latest development in the case will help him in the by-election, he said he "never considered" if the development will help in the by-election.

If Saiful wanted to following the Islamic procedure, "let's follow the syariah court (procedure), he said.

>> The choice of the next parliamentary opposition leader.
Anwar said when his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned as the MP for Permatang Pauh last month, Pakatan Rakyat had proposed that if he were to win the by-election, he would become the next opposition leader.

>> The tabling of the DNA bill in Parliament.
Anwar said: "Now they (BN) are really interested in DNA."

Asked to comment on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's statement that the bill had nothing to do with the by-election, Anwar said: "It is up to him to say whatever he wants."