KUALA LUMPUR – Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli (Pandan-PH) today shot down Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s (Pagoh-PN) attempt to fire up the Dewan Rakyat when he asked about the separation of powers between the prime minister and finance minister.
Rafizi also blamed the previous administrations, one of which was headed by Muhyiddin, for passing on structural issues to the current government.
“I do not agree with Pagoh (Muhyiddin). If we look at economic recovery, it was an issue that was inherited from the previous administrations.
“We are also facing issues in terms of our labour market. When was the last time the previous government focused on labour market reforms, salaries, or high-paying jobs?
“Previously, structuring the economy was under the Economic Planning Unit, which was headed by Pagoh (Muhyiddin) when you were prime minister.”
Rafizi added that this is the first time since many years that the Malaysian economy has been growing from one quarter to the next.
“So, bit by bit, confidence in our economy is recovering. So if you (Muhyiddin) and PN (Perikatan Nasional) are not confident, that is fine. But don’t mislead the rakyat or investors.”
The minister said the previous mistakes made by the previous administrations were to centralise the country’s finance administration under one umbrella, which is the Finance Ministry.
Now, he said, a large part of the economic recovery work, in terms of long-term planning, is determined by the Economy Ministry, in collaboration with other ministries.
“That is why the best person to hold the finance portfolio is the prime minister, because this position is tasked with ensuring that the procurement process is transparent and to avoid issues such as Jana Wibawa – something our friend in the opposition might know a thing or two about.”
On December 5, Rafizi said in his maiden press conference as economy minister that the “extraordinary political climate” in the country resulted in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim taking up the finance portfolio.
This, he added, would satisfy the component parties in the unity government. – November 22, 2023