SEMENYIH: The move to form an Economic Action Council (EAC) is an initiative to rehabilitate and strengthen the country’s economy and should not be seen as a sign of weakness of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
“It’s another initiative, it’s not the first time it was (being) done. Of course, it will oversee all the important measures to be taken to rehabilitate the economy, which is very important. So, don’t underestimate that.
“I brought forth the proposal because I know what was happening at the lower level, in terms of the economy.
“Alhamdulillah, (Prime Minister) Tun (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) accepted the proposal and announced the list of the council members yesterday. So, to say that the formation of the council is a sign of weakness of the PH government is not quite right,” he told reporters after visiting the General Operation Force 4th Battalion Complex here yesterday.
Muhyiddin said this in response to veteran media figure Datuk A. Kadir Jasin’s remark in his personal blog, The Scribe, that there were ‘implicit and explicit’ reasons behind the formation of the council.
Kadir also said that it also implied that the existing government machinery, especially the Cabinet ministers, cannot adequately handle issues affecting the economy, finance and people’s well-being.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said the people should give some time for the council to handle the current issues affecting the economy.
“Give it a chance. The fact that the PM had also announced the list of EAC members showed that the government is serious in seeing something done. I’m sure the first meeting of the council will be held very soon to identify the areas that need to be focused on,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s Office yesterday announced the formation of the EAC tasked with making decisions related to economic and financial affairs as well as the people’s well-being.
The main objectives of the council are to promote sustainable economic growth, ensure fair distribution of wealth and enhance the people’s well-being.
The council includes former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, former Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) member Professor Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram and banker Tan Sri Tay Ah Lek. — Bernama