SHAH ALAM: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has brushed aside the opposition's claim that Pakatan Harapan's maiden budget was plagiarised from the budget of the previous administration.
He said the opposition could say what they wanted, adding that the federal government would ensure that the government was not saddled with immense debt.
"He (opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) can say anything because he has no power.
"We don't want our country to owe billions of ringgit," he told reporters after launching the ‘When Active Living Kicks’ (WALK) campaign here today.
Present were Dr Mahathir's wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Zahid yesterday said the 2019 Budget was not only a modification of the budget by the previous Barisan Nasional government, but also falling short in several areas like steps to tackle joblessness.
He had also said that the budget contained no surprises nor "miracles" in its new initiative for the people.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir denied Pas deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man's allegation that the 2019 Budget had sidelined Terengganu and Kelantan.
"We have specific programmes (for the East Coast states)," he said.
Tuan Ibrahim had said there were no details on projects for the east coast states underlined in the 2019 Budget, which was tabled by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng in Parliament on Friday.