[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 18 Aug 1999
Time: 04:27:41
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Daim: Don't be misled by opposition
By V. Chandrasekaran
SUNGAI PETANI: Opposition parties have of late instilled fear among investors with their slanderous statements about the country, First Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin said.
He said the opposition was not bothered about the people's future and was only interested in gaining power.
"These are the people that Malaysians should be careful of, especially the rural people who are easily influenced," he said adding that the opposition was willing to sacrifice the country for their own benefit.
Daim noted that of late, opposition parties had been holding ceramah nationwide, especially in rural areas to win people over.
"I believe they will not be easily influenced by such manoeuvres of the opposition parties. They should not forget the Government's efforts at bringing stability and development to the country," he said.
The people should realise that it was because of the country's capability that it did not succumb to financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and land into more problems, he said.
"We clearly know the fate of the countries that subscribed to IMF assistance," he said, adding that with a stable Government and a harmonious society, more time could be devoted to strengthen the economy.
He was speaking at the opening of Pusat Giat Mara at Bedong, about 15km from here, yesterday. Also present was Second Finance Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed.
Daim said youths were the country's assets and it was for this reason that the Government had set up more Pusat Giat Mara to train students in various fields.
A total of 70,000 youths have been trained in Pusat Giat Mara since it was set up in 1986, he said.