By SIM LEOI LEOI
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has poured cold water on the Opposition’s claim that it will form a government on Tuesday by choosing this very day to witness the signing of a memorandum on high speed broadband access.
He told reporters that he “did not have any doubts” and he had always been confident that it would still be the same government in office” when Sept 16 came around.
“That is why I chose this date for the MOU signing. This is the project to herald the new future for the country, one which will bring the concept of modern Malaysia.
“This MOU will indicate how progressive our Government is,” he said Tuesday after witnessing the signing of the memorandum between the Government and Telekom Malaysia Bhd on high speech broadband access in Putrajaya International Convention Centre here.
Earlier, in his speech, Najib said Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had promised that he would cancel the high speed broadband project once he came into power.
“This is another politics of deception by the Opposition, which frequently does not come to fruition. So, for more than one reason, today’s ceremony will always be remembered,” he said.
Najib also dismissed Anwar’s claims at a Pakatan Rakyat rally on Monday night that he would announce the names of Barisan Nasional MPs crossing over on Tuesday. “He can say all kinds of things. Let him say that,” he said.
However, he declined to comment on either the four-eyed meeting he had with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or the resignation of de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
“It’s not high speed resignation. I will answer all political questions on Wednesday or the day after because there is a Cabinet meeting and Umno supreme council meeting on Thursday,” he said.
Earlier, Najib said the project, which he hoped to be fully implemented by 2010, had the capability of creating 135,000 new jobs as well as attracting new investors.
“A survey by the Economic Planning Unit showed that the initial stages of the project will bring about immediate positive impact to the Growth Domestic Product (GDP) by 1%.
“Modern communications infrastructure will help to increase the flow of foreign direct investments into the country, particularly when competition in this region is so stiff. High speed broadband access will put Malaysia into the investors’ shortlist,” he said, adding that broadband would make “teleworking” concept a realistic choice for many employers and workers.
“Teleworking will bring employement opportunities to areas with access to broadband. Workers will no longer have to stay in Kuala Lumpur to work,” he said.
