Soi Lek slams Pakatan’s Budget 2013

(The Star) IPOH: The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will suffer the most if Pakatan Rakyat implements its version of Budget 2013.

Pakatan's proposal for a minimum wage of RM1,100 would hurt SMEs, leading to many of them going bust, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“A jump from RM800 to RM900 is still acceptable,” he pointed out.

“But it will affect many of these companies if they have to endure a 30% increase from RM800 to RM1,100.

“And when these companies go bankrupt, many will lose their jobs,” he said after opening the Huat Tian Keong Temple's 59th anniversary dinner on Thursday.

Dr Chua said Pakatan's populist Budget 2013 was designed to fish for votes.

Dr Chua also said the possibility of PAS amending the Federal Constitution to implement hudud laws was “very likely” should they take over Putrajaya.

He cited Terengganu as an example when PAS took over the state government in 1999 and then amended the state constitution.

He stressed that even now, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu had declared the party's intention to do the same if Pakatan came into power.

On an unrelated matter, Dr Chua said he had met with Perak Wanita MCA chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie and explained the lobbying carried out by a deputy minister to contest the Gopeng parliamentary seat.

“I consider that issue to be resolved,” he said.

It was reported on Sept 18 that Heng hoped to meet Dr Chua to gain a better understanding on the issue after denying she was the deputy minister concerned.

 Dr Chua had warned a deputy minister to stop lobbying via another Barisan Nasional component party in contesting for that seat.