Fahmi: Review not rushed
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision to review the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) is not a hasty reaction but one that has gone through discussions over the past two weeks, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
He said the discussions began with a draft presented by the Economy Ministry secretary-general to the Cabinet.
'We've actually discussed this. In my press conference a few weeks ago, I mentioned that the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) had issued a directive to review the draft presented by the Economy Ministry secretary-general.
'As you know, any policy, programme or decision must first be presented at a Cabinet meeting.
'So, on Friday last week, the Prime Minister requested that all ministries review the draft and provide their feedback to the Economy Ministry,' he said at a press conference after launching the Nadi Aspirasi Nasional Bersama Anak Muda programme organised by the Community Communications Department (J-KOM) yesterday.
Fahmi, who is also the government spokesman, said a special Cabinet meeting was held last Monday to review feedback from all ministries.
'During the meeting, it was determined that several issues raised by the ministries require further consideration by the Economy Ministry in the preparation of the 13MP document.'
'That was one of the reasons why, in last Wednesday's Cabinet meeting it was decided that Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah would take on the duties and functions of the Economy Minister,' he said, Bernama reported.
Earlier, former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli was reported to have questioned the government's move to review the 13MP, calling it a hasty response to social media criticism.
This followed Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar's announcement on Friday that Amir Hamzah had been tasked with 'reviewing and revamping' the 13MP while concurrently performing the duties and functions of the Economy Minister, effective immediately.
The 13MP is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on July 31.
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