NIBONG TEBAL – Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has slammed the opposition for linking the government’s implementation of targeted diesel subsidies to borrowing from the International Monetary Fund.
Rafizi, who is also PKR deputy president, said that IMF loans are out of the question because such financial assistance would only be given to countries on the verge of bankruptcy.
“You cannot go to the IMF if you can pay your debts. Is Malaysia going bankrupt? Do we not have money to pay our debts? The question of the IMF does not arise, even if someone crazy wants to borrow from the IMF, the IMF would say you are crazy.
“You cannot borrow from the IMF if you still have money. Only countries on the brink of bankruptcy can go to the IMF,” he said during a speech at a unity government rally in conjunction with the Sg Bakap by-election in Taman Tasek Indah, Simpang Ampat, last night.
He said this in response to a question posed by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at a PN mega ceramah in Sg Bakap on Friday, who asked if the implementation of targeted diesel subsidies was linked to an IMF loan.
The Sg Bakap by-election on July 6 will see a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin and PN’s Abidin Ismail. It is being held following the death of the incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff, on May 24 from stomach inflammation. – June 30, 2024