Critics slam ‘non-performer’ Muhyiddin as recovery chief

 

A PKR leader asked if Muhyiddin Yassin’s appointment showed that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob lacked confidence in his ministers. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Muhyiddin Yassin’s appointment as National Recovery Council chairman today came under fire from PKR, who described the appointment as “a needless bureaucratic layer”, especially given the former prime minister’s previous performance in managing the pandemic.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said as the chairman, Muhyiddin would still be required to table the council’s proposal to the Cabinet first.

“Is Ismail not confident with his ministers?” he said in a statement, referring to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Saifuddin also wondered if Muhyiddin was prepared to suggest that the “ineffective” policies brought in during his tenure as premier be revoked or improved upon.

“Won’t the former prime minister try to protect his legacy instead of reviewing them objectively?”

Saifuddin said Muhyiddin had failed to manage the pandemic when he was the prime minister and is responsible for the current misery the people are enduring.

Muhyiddin was also responsible for the Emergency although the move did not succeed in reducing the number of Covid-19 cases, he said.

“So why has Muhyiddin been given a position in Ismail’s government unless it is for the latter’s political survival.”

Klang MP Charles Santiago of DAP questioned the basis on which a “non-performer” had been appointed.

He said Muhyiddin was given 17 months with eight months of emergency powers to contain the pandemic. “Billions were spent on recovery packages, but brought no changes.”

University of Nottingham Malaysia political analyst Bridget Welsh said given Muhyiddin’s leadership record on managing the health crisis, the appointment “does not evoke confidence”.

“Malaysia is looking like it may need a recovery from the recovery council,” she tweeted.

Earlier today, Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali announced Muhyiddin’s appointment to the post, which carries a ministerial rank.

Zuki said the appointment was made based on the government’s confidence in Muhyiddin’s ability to spearhead the nation’s recovery strategies in order to achieve the best impact on the economy and improve the people’s lives badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. - FMT