KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have no long-term plans for the country after the 15th general election, DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng claimed today.

The former finance minister further claimed that the coalition leaders had short-sighted goals and were more concerned with saving themselves from corruption charges instead of clear plans on stopping the ringgit slide or helping the post-pandemic economy do better.

"BN leaders are focused on trying desperately to deny their Freudian slip that revealed their innermost desires, namely that a BN victory is not the quick fix to save them from corruption charges in court.

"There is no plan to deal with the financial burdens faced by the people and businesses facing escalating cost of living associated with soaring prices, depreciating ringgit, rising interest rates, low real wage increase that cannot keep up with inflation and a severe foreign labour shortage,” Lim said in a statement.

He questioned how a BN victory can save the value of the ringgit which is falling behind currencies such as the Singapore dollar, Indonesian rupiah and United States dollar.

He said the drop in the value of the ringgit will only add on to existing inflationary pressures and rising costs of living, and is only expected to be worse when the central bank increases interest rates again in November.

"Apart from selfish political interests, calling an election in the midst of the flood season and uncertain economic times that requires complete focus to deal with these problems is highly irresponsible.

"What is clear is that BN by holding the elections in the midst of Deepavali, a first in any major ethnic festival since Merdeka, is so disrespectful to the Indian community,” he said.

Deepavali falls on October 24 this year.

Parliament was dissolved on October 10. A fresh national election must be called within 60 days.

The 15th general election is expected to be held in early November.