KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has mooted that he might invite opposition MPs to attend future meetings of the government’s Economic Action Council, so as to gain more insights on how to better govern the country.
“In fact, I am also thinking of inviting them to sit in the daily Covid-19 meetings. If they disagree with some of our decisions then I would like to hear their suggestions,” said Muhyiddin, in a televised interview tonight on Budget 2021.
He however, was non-committal, when asked if this inclusive gesture will also include political matters, despite saying that it was part of the agenda but “will not be the main priority.”
“We will take it one-step-at-a-time but my main concern at the moment is Covid-19 and the country’s economic revival,” he added.
During the session, Muhyiddin also addressed a criticism by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, over the supposed lack of adequate economic stimulus in the RM322.5-billion Budget 2021, that was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
“We do not know everything and that is why we gather inputs from others, but in these trying times even an increment from 4.8% to 7% is already a huge stimulus. If you look at it, we are not doing too bad although the situation is indeed burdensome,” he said.
Muhyiddin also stated that over 500,000 jobs will be created in every sector via the newly formed Employment Council that was announced by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz upon tabling Budget 2021.
“We will also train, upskill and reskill the unemployed so that they can adapt to the jobs that will be generated,” he said, adding that this needed to be done given the ballooning number of unemployed in the country, currently at about 800,000.
On a question on the need for continued government aid, Muhyiddin remarked that while he agreed that the people should not be overly reliant on the government, the current situation demands direct help from the administration.
“If the government has to borrow more in order to help the people, so be it. Besides, these assistance that we give to the people, they are not for nothing. They possess multiplier effects.
“When people get income, they spend and when they spend, it spurs the economic sectors, such as retail and business. We also need to do it so that people will not fall through the social safety net,” said Muhyiddin.
In his parting remarks, Muhyiddin once again implored on all MPs to not reject Budget 2021 as doing so will bode badly for the people.
“I hope they will support it. If they don’t, then the people will be hurt. This is not a solution for all the problems that we are facing but it is an effort to solve the major issues that we are facing right now.
“Managing Covid-19 and the recovery of the economy. This balancing act is difficult. My hope is that whatever that we have included in Budget 2021 will benefit the people,” added Muhyiddin. – The Vibes, November 7, 2020
