KUALA LUMPUR – The road to Malaysia’s economic recovery and growth should not merely be lip service as the country is losing out to its neighbours on big investments, said former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Following a teh tarik session with business owners and entrepreneurs at an Indian restaurant in Bangsar, Najib said this was because in the past, the country had “thorough” and “clear” economic plans and management.
“Recovery? Development? Achievements? They are not only words that are uttered,” Najib said in his Facebook post.
“They need to be felt, enjoyed and seen by the rakyat.”
Najib had spent several hours at the Maya Banana Leaf restaurant in Bangsar yesterday evening where he heard requests by some of the food and beverage operators who are seeking leniency on some pandemic-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The Pekan MP said many of the people he met had expressed their concerns over the state of the country’s economy.
He also questioned whether Malaysia was currently left behind when compared to its neighbours such as Indonesia, which has become a choice destination for investors.
“We read about it every month. There are always big investors picking neighbouring countries, not Malaysia.”
“(Malaysia) was once selected by global companies. Selected by government-related companies of foreign countries. Selected by renowned entrepreneurs and businesses.”
However, he said he had told all those present at the session to be confident in Malaysia as the road to economic development would return with the right formula.
On another matter, the restaurant owners in Bangsar who were present there with Najib called for the government to loosen some restrictions on their operations.
“I hope the government can consider extending the operating hours to go beyond midnight,” Najib said in another Facebook post.
“The spread of Covid-19 does not depend on certain hours of the day to infect (people).”
Meanwhile, Ravindran Devagunam – a former economic and policy advisor to Najib who was present at the session – said 19 of the restaurant operators who ran businesses in the busy Telawi area wanted to speak to Najib as the former prime minister has been highlighting pertinent issues.
Ravindran said the extension of operating hours was an example of how current SOPs had hampered the country’s road to economic recovery.
“They (restaurant owners) were very happy to meet him (Najib) as they believed he could help bring the matter up to the government,” Ravindran told The Vibes when contacted.
“The operating hours was one of the matters raised, and this has direct spill-over effects such as generating more income for workers and people such as e-hailing drivers who will have more hours to work.” – The Vibes, January 17, 2022
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