FORMER prime minister Najib Razak took leave from his corruption trial to question the government in Parliament today on its plans for 4.8% economic growth for 2020.

In a 20-minute speech to debate Budget 2020, tabled last Friday, Najib said the government’s growth projections were higher than those of independent experts.

“Economic analysts elsewhere have forecast a GDP growth of just 4.3%. Only PH is predicting such high growth,” the Pekan MP said in Parliament.

He asked if Putrajaya would have to incur a deficit greater than 3.2% in order to achieve 4.8% growth.

“Last year, PH predicted a deficit of 3% but that has already been exceeded, reaching 3.2%,” he added.

Even though Barisan Nasional had similarly raised the deficit in 2009, Najib said it was to save the economy from a world economic crisis.

“Following that, we recorded lower deficits for eight consecutive years, until PH took over in the last elections.”

Under BN, there was already a plan to reduce the deficit from 2.8% in 2018, to 2% in 2019, before reaching 0.6% in 2020.

“However, it looks like the deficit is expected to remain high under PH,” said the former finance minister.

The government deficit in 2018 was RM52.2 billion and it is expected to be RM52.4 billion this year.

“Should PH add RM50 billion worth of deficits for the next three years, our national debt will reach RM850 billion.

“If it continues, it would reach RM1 trillion by 2023,” he said.

Furthermore, Najib said that he did not see any impact of PH’s second government budget.

As government expenditure is reduced next year, so is its support for the economy, said the former Umno president, who is on trial for corruption and abuse of power involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd and SRC International Sdn Bhd. – October 15, 2019.