KOTA KINABALU: Former Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan has welcomed his new appointment in the Prime Minister’s Department.
In the cabinet reshuffle announced yesterday, Abdul Rahman was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and will be in charge of the Economic Planning Unit.
The Kota Belud Member of Parliament when commenting about the new appointment said, “it is with much enthusiasm that I welcome Prime Minister Mohd Najib Tun Razak’s decision to place me under the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).
“I thank him for his trust and confidence in me. Most of all, I am honoured to be entrusted with such an important role. Today also marks another milestone for Sabahans, this is the first time that a Sabahan minister has been appointed to head the EPU.
“Though it saddens me to leave the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government after a three-year stint, I look forward to contribute, to the best of my ability, to the EPU so that I will be able to continue the good work left by previous economic ministers,” he said.
EPU’s role in shaping the social and economic development of the country has been essential, if not massive, Abdul Rahman said and he believed economic issues will play a crucial role in determining the votes for the upcoming 14th General Election.
It is therefore time to get Malaysians to be even more interested in the nation’s economic issues by using a language that is friendly to all and sundry, he pointed out.
“I look forward to embark on programmes that will bring the EPU closer to the rakyat, programmes that make the EPU more understood and appreciated by the ordinary people. This important institution must not remain exclusively in the hands of economists, businessmen and policy-makers.
“We must strive to present pertinent issues in simpler ways so as to bring the EPU closer to the people. By doing this, I trust we will significantly help a larger cross-section of the rakyat better understand the challenging dynamics of our economy.
“It is my hope that when the people have a sense of ownership in the EPU, getting them to embrace the policies to counter challenges faced by the nation will be much easier. Once again, I thank the Prime Minister for his trust and wisdom,” Abdul Rahman said.