Job with tough decisions - Not easy being PM, rues Najib

The nation's top post is anything but a bed of roses, according to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“People always look at the nice part, 'oh there's a motorcade'.

“(But) that is on the outside. (Inside) there is anguish and tough decisions to make but you know it is the right decision,” he said.

The prime minister was speaking at a live Budget 2018 sharing session at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Bangi this morning.

Earlier, Najib promised that his government would continue to take care of the people, but conceded that sometimes its decisions are unpopular.

“There are times we have to make unpopular decisions. I know the GST is unpopular.

“(Permodalan Nasional Berhad group chairperson) Wahid (Omar) was in the cabinet, he knew how difficult it was,” he said.

Wahid, a former minister in the Prime Minister's Department, was present at the UKM session.

On the other hand, Najib said abolishing tolls would be a popular decision.

“(It is) not easy, but I don't believe that paying toll on a daily basis is good for the rakyat.

“For the North-South Expressway, (Kuala Lumpur)-Karak Highway, once in a while it is fine, but paying for toll two, four times a day, who would not be angry?” he added.

[More to follow]

- Mkini