Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming defended the civil service as he denied claims that a reported plan to consult public housing experts from Singapore was intended to replace those who underperformed.
He came under fire from quarters that accused him of having a racial agenda to oppress the Malay-Muslim community by emulating Singapore’s Housing and Development Board (HDB) housing plans.
"Claims by certain parties with political interests that seeking insight from Singaporean housing experts was done to compensate for the weakness of Malaysian civil servants are untrue and have ill intentions.
"It is clear that this accusation is an act of provocation with seditious elements," Nga (above) said in a statement today.
He said civil servants under his ministry have for years since the country's independence contributed to the development of various key policies, including the National Housing Policy, National Low-Income Housing Policy and other holistic housing projects.
"Therefore, the intention to invite foreign experts, including from Singapore for seminars and workshops, was to gain knowledge and share expertise in the housing sector so Malaysia can move forward and remain relevant with current developments," he said.
Nga also explained that engagement with the Singapore HDB had started in 2015, while the current housing policy was the result of collaboration between the government and local housing experts from Khazanah Research Institute (KRI), Bank Negara Malaysia, academicians and others.
"There is nothing wrong for us to improve existing policies based on best practices so that it would be more comprehensive and practical, based on a Malaysian model.
On Jan 17, Nga, in an interview with Astro Awani, announced that the Singapore government had agreed to allow HDB contractors to "masuk" (join) the Local Government Development Ministry next month in order to share their expertise.
This prompted Bersatu supreme council member Faiz Na'aman to accuse Nga of undermining national sovereignty, while Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan warned that the fate of bumiputera would be at risk if an HDB model is implemented.
Meanwhile, Nga stressed that his ministry will not hesitate to take legal action against any party that made slanderous and inciting statements.
Last night, free-to-air broadcaster Awesome TV through its prime-time news programme Berita 757 reported that it was made to understand that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had approved plans to bring in Singaporean HDB experts because Malaysia lacks competent government officers, and that they were lackadaisical in handling the issue.
The news channel said the approval followed Nga's remarks on the knowledge-sharing session with Singaporean experts.
"The ministry has instructed the news channel to apologise, correct its statement and hold firm to the ethics of journalism," Nga said.
Earlier today, Terengganu Pakatan Harapan chairperson Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad, who is a trained architect, defended Nga as he contended that the Malay community would benefit the most if the housing system is successfully implemented at a lower cost with positive socio-economic factors. - Mkini
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