Why so slow? Muhyiddin slams govt’s delay in implementing NRC recommendations

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government has been lambasted for being slow to implement recommendations by the National Recovery Council (NRC) made months ago to ensure economic recovery. 

NRC chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the council had submitted 95 recommendations for the cabinet ministers to consider, where 69 are related to socio-economic issues while 26 others are related to governance.

Of the 95 recommendations, Muhyiddin said, Putrajaya had approved 86 of them while nine are still pending the cabinet’s approval.  

Only 16 of the 69 socio-economic suggestions have been fully implemented, the remaining 30 are still in the process of being carried out, and 14 have not yet been implemented.

Muhyiddin said he takes a serious view of the delays, as the nation is “not in a good situation at the present time.” 

“While there are positive signs, these are just temporary before the country faces the looming global recession next year. 

“If immediate action is not taken to address the current situation, the people will suffer,” he said at a press conference after a NRC meeting in Putrajaya today.  

As an example of unresolved problems, the former prime minister who preceded Ismail Sabri said NRC had raised issues pertaining to labour shortage since last December, but the intake of migrant workers still falls short of what is required. 

“NRC also made recommendations for banks to give micro, small and medium-sized enterprises another loan moratorium or repayment restructuring and it was first submitted to the cabinet on May 18. 

“But the prime minister only said this month that he would discuss the matter with relevant ministries before making a decision. 

“I’m quite puzzled. Did the cabinet not discuss NRC’s recommendation at its meeting more than four months ago? Or was this recommendation tabled to the cabinet but not discussed in detail?” 

Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan Nasional chairman, said that NRC was merely an advisory body to the government, adding “we have no power to implement any measures”. 

“As the NRC chairman, I don’t have the authority to direct a minister or ministry secretary-general to take certain measures or make decisions to expedite the nation’s recovery. 

“The power lies with the prime minister and his cabinet.” – The Vibes, September 27, 2022