Cabinet failed to act on NRC’s advise, Muhyiddin rails against govt

erikatan Nasional chief Muhyiddin Yassin has hit back at criticism that the National Recovery Council (NRC), which he chairs, has failed to make a significant impact.

He pointed out that the council only serves in an advisory role and many of its recommendations were not acted upon by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the cabinet.

Recently, Muhyiddin's (above, right) role as NRC chairperson had come under attack from BN leaders after he suggested that Ismail Sabri call for snap polls if the latter was having issues in rejuvenating the economy.

In a statement today, Muhyiddin said one such example was on issues impacting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSEM).

He said that on May 18, the NRC sent the cabinet a memorandum, recommending that loan restructuring or moratorium facilities be extended to MSEMs.

Muhyiddin added he had raised the matter again in a press statement on Sept 12, but the government appears to have not discussed the matter.

"I am very confused as the cabinet memorandum on this matter was brought to them on May 18.

"Did the cabinet not discuss this important recommendation from the NRC in its meeting over four months ago?

"Or was the memorandum tabled but not discussed in detail?" Muhyiddin asked.

The Pagoh MP said this was very disappointing as MSEMs contribute 37 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), but action was not taken to help them recover.

Meanwhile, he said the NRC had also urged the government to take steps to address migrant worker shortages faced by MSEMs since last December but has yet to be resolved by the administration.

All is not well

As NRC chairperson, Muhyiddin said he has no authority to give orders to ministers or any government department directors.

The power, he stressed, lies with the prime minister and cabinet.

"I don't want to point fingers at anyone. My aim is to inform everyone that this county is not in a good situation right now," he said.

Muhyiddin said signs of economic recovery and growth at the moment were only temporary and the country may face a recession next year if immediate action was not taken.

He hoped that Ismail Sabri and the government would focus on taking more effective steps to heal the economy faster to ease the people's burdens.

Besides Muhyiddin, the NRC's members include finance, international trade and industry. defence, works, education, health, and economic affairs ministers.

Other members are the chief secretary to the government, and experts on economic, social, and education issues, including members of the opposition parties.

Three of the NRC members Senior International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali, Senior Education Minister Mohd Radzi Jidin and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed are from Muhyiddin’s party, Bersatu.

Ismail Sabri had previously responded to Muhyiddin's criticism by saying that any failures by the government in managing the economy would mean that Bersatu ministers and the NRC had also failed. - Mkini