Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rebutted claims that his supposed inability to focus on his finance minister role is contributing to the ringgit’s devaluation against the US dollar and regional currencies.
“Tell the person who suggested that to read up on the economic and financial reports instead of PAS’ report,” Anwar was quoted as saying by Bernama today.
He was referring to PAS assistant secretary-general Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman who reportedly said the fall of the ringgit was because Malaysia does not have a full-time finance minister.
The Bachok MP accused Anwar of having difficulties paying attention to the Finance Ministry, given the heavy workload of being the prime minister.
Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli yesterday said the ringgit’s depreciation since early this year was due to various crises in the US and that the situation was beyond the government’s control.
Rafizi said the US had been facing issues such as the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank and the ongoing US debt ceiling limit impasse since the beginning of the year.
Affordable housing
On a separate issue, Anwar said he wants the Local Government Development Ministry to review conditions set for housing developers to ensure affordable housing is provided for all mega projects.
The prime minister explained this was necessary as the requirement for such projects to include at least 30 percent of affordable housing was not in line with the schedule and scale set.
“That is why I have asked Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming to review and set new conditions,” he told reporters after handing over keys to the Madani Dalur housing for civil servants in Putrajaya today.
Anwar said housing developers must abide by this condition so that the middle-income group can afford their own homes.
The government has required private housing developers to build at least 30 percent of affordable housing in mega housing projects since 1981.
About 200,000 units priced at RM300,000 and below are needed to meet the housing demand of civil servants throughout the country, he added. - Mkini
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