Najib's Dream Merchants - Who Are They?

Najib's warning to Malaysians (The Star, 23rd March) against dream merchants who could turn the country into another failed state depending on foreign handouts must have been given tongue-in-cheek.

Najib did not identify who these dream merchants were, but it is obvious from his reference to orange document that he meant the opposition coalition Pakatan.

In fact, the orange document or buku jingga referred to by Najib is Pakatan's 100 days plan for the country once Pakatan is able to win the next general election.

It included the restructuring of subsidies, the abolition of the dreaded Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows for detention without trail. measures for tackling corruption and the restoration of the rakyat's confidence in public institutions like the police and the judiciary and the abolition of tolls amongst others.

In fact when Pakatan first revealed its 100 days plan, Najib had come out to say that it was a mere publicity gimmick and would bankrupt the nation.

Anwar had subsequently challenged Najib to a public debate on the matter, but the latter just shrunk from the challenge. Instead Najib's lieutenants both inside and outside his cabinet were all very eager to deputise for their boss. Is Najib Chickening Out?

As the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Najib should have taken on Anwar and showed the people why Pakatan's 100 days plan would bankrupt the nation and that his government had the better plan.

If Najib had done so, there would be no need for him to talk about dream merchants.

Najib had also said in the warning about dream merchants, that they had at times managed to dupe the people into believing "there's gold at the end of the rainbow".

Allow me to humbly remind the Prime Minister that even if there may be no gold at the end of the rainbow, it is the government's job to look for it otherwise it would be failing in its duty to the rakyat.