By Adib Zalkapli
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali today flexed his political muscles and urged Datuk Seri Idris Jala to step down from the Cabinet over his remarks on subsidy cuts.
Ibrahim, who also leads the Malay rights group Perkasa, said Idris’s performance in the government does not reflect his achievement in the private sector.
“A minister like this should just resign. Or perhaps the prime minister should consider removing this person,” said Ibrahim (picture) when debating the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP).
“A real politician may say things to get political mileage. How could a professional make a statement that has confused the nation?” he asked.
Idris, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, had predicted that Malaysia could be bankrupt by 2019 if it did not begin to cut subsidies for petrol, electricity, food and other staples, which he said cost the country RM74 billion last year.
He made the revelation late last month to justify the government’s plans to cut subsidies.
The Pemandu CEO’s estimation was however contradicted by the Finance Ministry which told Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers last week that the subsidy bill was only RM18.6 billion.
Idris was Malaysia Airlines CEO and managing director prior to his appointment as minister by Datuk Seri Najib Razak in August last year.
He was tasked with overseeing the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) together with another minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
Idris has come under fire from even BN lawmakers for his remarks on subsidy removal.
Earlier today, BN’s Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz warned the Najib administration that the plan to cut subsidies may lead to its downfall - TMI
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