KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday proposed an alternative budget plan to restore confidence in the country's economy amid a global downturn and expected low growth rates.

Mr Anwar produced a 20-page document that proposes slashing government expenditure on mega-projects and opening up public tenders while spending more on areas that provide direct help to the people.

'Our recommendations, if implemented properly, will steer the country through the turbulence ahead,' Mr Anwar told reporters on the sidelines of the annual budget debate in parliament.

He said the Pakatan Rakyat alliance of opposition parties came up with the plan after the government unveiled its budget in August this year but refused to amend it despite a downturn in the global and local economies.

The proposals call for a 23.83 billion ringgit (S$10.01 billion) cut in the government's proposed operating expenditure of 154.17 billion ringgit with additional savings by reducing corruption and mandating open tenders for government procurement.

'The aborted 1.13 billion crooked scenic bridge, a nine billion ringgit undersea cable-tracking project and a 15.2 billion high speed broadband project, all this has got to be shelved,' Mr Anwar said.

He said the money could then be put into improving education standards, strategic public transport initiatives, home ownership and fighting crime.

However, his budget proposals are unlikely to be accepted by the Barisan Nasional coalition government which control two-thirds of the house and does not normally work with the opposition in formulating laws and policies.

A resurgent opposition scored a big win in March 8 polls when it secured a third of parliamentary seats and control of five states. -- AFP