Latest news with #AmirHamzahAzizan
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Why last-minute revamp of 13th Malaysia Plan, Rafizi asks govt
Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli said the 13th Malaysia Plan is an important document for the nation. PETALING JAYA : Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli has questioned the government's decision to revamp the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), slated to be tabled in Parliament at the end of July. Rafizi said the last-minute overhaul of the next five-year development plan would raise concerns among the civil servants who prepared the 13MP, market analysts, and Malaysians as a whole. The PKR MP for Pandan also asked whether the changes would be rushed since there would be insufficient time to refer the plan to the inter-agency planning group, the technical working group, and experts who formulated the initial 13MP. 'Why is this overhaul of the 13MP arising now when there was no such issue raised when the economy ministry and I tabled the contents of the 13MP previously? 'The 13MP is an important document for the nation and Malaysians, developed by thousands of Malaysians from various segments of society. If we're not careful, the 13MP will be dragged into political polemics which would end up affecting the people's confidence in the final document. 'If this happens, it would be a great injustice to those who worked hard on the 13MP over the past year,' he said in a statement. Earlier today, the government announced that finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan has taken on the duties and functions of the economy portfolio, and given the duty of overhauling the 13MP. Amir said he had received 'a lot of feedback' from his Cabinet colleagues on the plan, which necessitated an overhaul of the document. Rafizi said the preparation of the 13MP started in September 2024 when feedback was obtained from all stakeholders, first through the inter agency planning group which involved every government ministry and agency. Then, he said, there was a technical working group comprising policy experts in specific areas, from health, fiscal and education reforms to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. He said there were also numerous engagements between the economy ministry and state governments, industry players, and MPs from September to December 2024. 'At the same time, there was a 'top down' process, namely the development of key policies that were bold and radical, running concurrently involving the economy ministry and experts. 'These policies, categorised according to the various fields, were identified as key catalysts for structural reforms in those areas. These bold and radical policies that were proposed may not have been acceptable to the relevant ministries. 'That's why I tabled them to the prime minister multiple times beforehand between February to April, and tabled it twice to the Cabinet to achieve a compromise and consensus,' he said. Rafizi said there was a tight schedule to prepare and table the 13MP compared with previous Malaysia plans. He also said the 13MP was fully developed by civil servants without the involvement of external consultants.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Amir given economy minister's duties, to overhaul 13th Malaysia Plan
Senator Amir Hamzah Azizan was appointed as finance minister II in December 2023. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Cabinet has agreed for finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan to take on the duties and functions of the economy portfolio, effective immediately. In a statement, chief secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said this was decided by the Cabinet on Wednesday. 'His main duty will be to amend and overhaul the contents of the 13th Malaysia Plan, which will be tabled in Parliament on July 31, with additional information submitted by the ministries as well as the views and comments given by the Cabinet,' he said. Amir, a senator, was appointed as finance minister II in December 2023. The economy minister's post became vacant with the resignation of Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, who stepped down after losing his post as PKR deputy president. Rafizi said he had completed the 13th Malaysia Plan before his resignation, describing it as his final responsibility as economy minister. He said the document was drafted to place greater emphasis on comprehensive reforms, including several involving the education ministry. Following his resignation, the Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (Samenta) urged Putrajaya to ensure continuity in economic policies and commitment to long-term reforms. Samenta chairman William Ng said the 13th Malaysia Plan in particular must not be seen as the vision of a single minister but a national blueprint born out of broad consultations and urgent necessity. Ng also warned that Malaysia risked missing out on yet another economic cycle if key reforms outlined in the plan were not retained and fully implemented. In a separate statement, Amir thanked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for entrusting him with the responsibility of the economy ministry's duties in the interim. He said he had received 'a lot of feedback' from his Cabinet colleagues on the 13th Malaysia Plan which necessitated an overhaul of the document. 'This is to best showcase the policies that the Madani government is prioritising while continuing the momentum of our economic reform agenda,' he said.
![Amir Hamzah takes over Economy Minister duties with immediate effect [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Amir Hamzah takes over Economy Minister duties with immediate effect [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan will assume the duties and functions of the economy minister with immediate effect. The announcement was made by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar in a statement this morning. Shamsul Azri said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim informed the Cabinet of the decision during its meeting on June 25. "The Prime Minister informed the Cabinet at its meeting on June 25 that he had agreed for Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan to assume the duties and functions of the Economy Minister with immediate effect. "The primary responsibility of Amir Hamzah is to revise and reformulate the contents of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) document, which will be tabled in Parliament on July 31, taking into account additional input submitted by various ministries, as well as views and comments provided by the Cabinet," the statement said. The economy portfolio became vacant after Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli resigned from the post on May 28. The resignation of the Pandan member of parliament as economy minister followed his defeat in the PKR central-level election, where he failed to defend his deputy president post. Anwar had previously said that the 13MP would be a key policy document outlining the nation's efforts to address various economic challenges, including development and income disparities. He had said that challenges requiring urgent attention include development and income inequality, limited fiscal space, and the slow pace of structural economic transition.
Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Amir Hamzah tasked to carry out duties and functions of Economy Minister
FINANCE Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan has been given the responsibility of carrying out the duties and functions of the Minister of Economy with immediate effect. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, who is also Secretary to the Cabinet, stated that the matter was discussed at the Cabinet meeting on June 25 and was agreed upon by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 'Amir Hamzah's primary responsibility is to review and revamp the core framework of the 13th Malaysia Plan, which will be tabled in Parliament on July 31, 2025,' he said in a statement on Friday (June 27). This includes taking into account additional information submitted by ministries, as well as views and comments provided by the Cabinet. On May 28, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli announced his resignation from the post of economy minister, following a defeat for the deputy president post in the PKR party elections. In a statement, Rafizi said that his defeat in the election meant that he no longer had the mandate to carry out his party's reform agenda in government after losing to Nurul Izzah Anwar. Meanwhile, Amir Hamzah, in a statement, thanked the prime minister for the trust in giving him the mandate to assist with the tasks and responsibilities at the Economy Ministry. The main focus for the moment is to finalise the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), he said, adding that he had received many feedback from fellow ministers in Cabinet indicating the need to revise the 13MP to better reflect the policies of the Madani government and to sustain the momentum of the Madani Economic Agenda reform. ‒ June 27, 2025 Main image: Bernama
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Amir Hamzah tasked to carry out duties, functions of Minister of Economy
Amir Hamzah Azizan PUTRAJAYA (June 27): Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan has been given the responsibility of carrying out the duties and functions of the Minister of Economy with immediate effect. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, who is also Secretary to the Cabinet, stated that the matter was discussed at the Cabinet meeting on June 25 and was agreed upon by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 'Amir Hamzah's primary responsibility is to review and revamp the core framework of the 13th Malaysia Plan, which will be tabled in Parliament on July 31, 2025,' he said in a statement here today. This includes taking into account additional information submitted by ministries, as well as views and comments provided by the Cabinet. On May 28, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli announced his resignation from the post of economy minister, following a defeat for the deputy president post in the PKR party elections In a statement, Rafizi said that his defeat in the election meant that he no longer had the mandate to carry out his party's reform agenda in government after losing to Nurul Izzah Anwar. Meanwhile, Amir Hamzah, in a statement, thanked the Prime Minister for the trust in giving him the mandate to assist with the tasks and responsibilities at the Ministry of Economy. The main focus for the moment is to finalise the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), he said, adding that he had received many feedback from fellow ministers in Cabinet indicating the need to revise the 13MP to better reflect the policies of the Madani government and to sustain the momentum of the Madani Economic Agenda reform. – Bernama
