'Opposition 'proven' incapable of fulfilling promises'

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said it is now proven that the opposition pact, especially in Selangor, is incapable of running a government.

He said the opposition parties only knew how to make promises without thinking whether they had the ability to deliver them.

He said in Selangor, the state government was faced with various issues such as the sand mining issue, which he said, was in stark contrast to their claims of being an efficient government.

"They have no ability to manage the state economy although they claim to be an efficient government.

"In reality, they only talk... they talk like a parrot, they say things without knowing the meaning," Muhyiddin said the failure of the opposition to run their administration smoothly had affected confidence among investors towards the country, especially in Selangor.

"Should we trust them? I want the people to be aware of this and not destroy our future by believing in the lies and allegations being spread by the opposition parties when they themselves are not capable of delivering their own promises," he said.

Muhyiddin said that unlike the opposition pact, Barisan Nasional had proven its capabilities and that it had now overcome its past weaknesses, with the leaders now going to the ground to meet the people. "We are now a true government for the people," he said.

He also refuted allegations by the opposition that the BN was a racist government.

"How is it that they are accusing us of being racist when we are representing the interest of everyone... the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan and so on," he said.

Government would not burden the people

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that when implementing the subsidy rationalization plan, the Government would seek not to burden the people.

He said the rationalization move was necessary to reduce Government expenditure and strengthen the financial position of the country.

From Friday, the subsidies for sugar, petrol, liquefied petroleum gas and diesel will be cut as part of the gradual subsidy rationalization programmed.

The price of sugar will go up 25sen to RM1.75 per kg; LPG will go up 10sen to RM1.85 per kg; petrol RON95 will be up 5 sen to RM1.85 per liter and diesel will be up 5sen to RM1.75 per liter.

RON 97 will no longer be subsidized. It will be subjected to a managed float, where the price will be determined by the automatic pricing mechanism, the statement said.

Suara Keadilan's permit suspended

The Home Ministry yesterday suspended PKR organ Suara Keadilan's publishing permit for running afoul of the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA).

The ministry said in a statement that it was not satisfied with the explanation provided by the weekly tabloid. Therefore, its annual publishing permit, which expired yesterday, would not be renewed.

The Suara Keadilan explanation was given for an article it reported in its June 21-29 edition that the Federal Land and Development Agency (Felda) is bankrupt.

"As of July 1, the publication is no longer valid and as such, it cannot be printed or published… according to Section 5(1) of the PPPA," said the ministry's publications and al-Quran text controls secretary Zaitun Ab Samad.

She said the decision was made by the ministry's Panel for Evaluating Printing and Publications Permit Applications (Panel 13), which is headed by its secretary-general Mahmood Adam. The publisher will be required to respond to the letter.

The application for the renewal of their permit - which expired on June 30 - will be considered after we have received a satisfactory explanation," she said. The ministry reportedly sent Suara Keadilan three show-cause letters prior to the one on its Felda article, which was sent on June 28.