PETALING JAYA: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has told the National Recovery Council (MPN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin that the council’s services will no longer be needed if Barisan Nasional gets a convincing win in the 15th general election (GE15).
Repeating his call for MPN to be disbanded as its functions were unclear, unnecessary, and overlapped with those of think tanks and other government agencies, Zahid accused Muhyiddin of using MPN as a platform to promote his political propaganda.
“Malaysia needs political stability before various meaningful policies can be formulated,” said Zahid in a Facebook post.
“With the eventual majority victory of BN/Umno, MPN or councils like MPN will no longer be needed,” he said, adding that the government, private sector, academics and NGOs will continue to cooperate to ensure the country’s development.
“Ministers are constantly coordinating the functions of agencies and bringing policies proposed by ministries to be considered by the Cabinet before being implemented. That alone is enough for the government to function and run well.”
Yesterday, former prime minister Muhyiddin complained that Putrajaya was slow to implement the council’s recommendations, stating that its sluggishness to spur the economy would be detrimental as many economists had predicted a global economic downturn next year.
The Bersatu president said that as of yesterday, only 16 of the council’s 69 socio-economic recommendations had been fully implemented, with 30 in the process of being executed, 14 yet to be implemented, and nine pending the Cabinet’s decision.
While the MPN is composed of experts from various fields, Zahid said that since the MPN chief lacked executive powers, the council’s proposals lacked the political will to be pushed through.
“It is customary to give suggestions. We are grateful if they are accepted, and if not, we can provide better suggestions,” said Zahid.
“Therefore, Muhyiddin does not need to complain as if the government has eliminated MPN or it has failed.
“With the government having implemented 16 of the council’s 69 recommendations, it shows that the council’s views are still taken very seriously even though the need for it is unclear.”-FMT