Tabled when he was PM, Ismail Sabri questions new 12MP initiatives

Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has expressed concerns over new initiatives for the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) announced in the mid-term review by his successor Anwar Ibrahim earlier this week.

Ismail Sabri, who tabled the 12MP with RM400 billion in funding two years ago, said he welcomes the government’s plan to raise the allocation ceiling by RM15 billion but questioned where the extra money was coming from.

“It was not explained in detail how the additional allocation ceiling of RM15 billion would be procured.

“Aside from that, the government today set the fiscal deficit at 3.5 percent even though they increased the allocation ceiling for 12MP.

“Does this mean the government will not go into debt?” he questioned in a commentary on Utusan Malaysia.

The Bera MP then asked if the government plans to introduce new taxes or reintroduce the GST to increase revenue.

He also expressed reservations over the plan to eliminate hardcore poverty by the end of this year, saying the original goal of doing so by the end of 2025 was a more realistic target.

“There are only three months left for this goal to eliminate hardcore poverty at the end of this year.

“We want to know, what programmes will be implemented to ensure 114,000 families are lifted out of hardcore poverty? Until now, of those 114,000 families, how many have been lifted out of hardcore poverty?” he asked.

Eradicating hardcore poverty requires balanced development among the different regions of Malaysia, he added, which is why his administration distributed 50 percent of the ceiling allocation to six states under the 12MP.

This matter was not detailed in the mid-term review of the 12MP, he said.

“Will the 50 percent allocation for these states continue?” he asked.

The former prime minister also urged the government to reconsider reducing import permits for food as this would lead to monopolies.

“In such challenging times, we need a short-term plan to ensure the price of food such as rice does not surge,” Ismail Sabri said.

Anwar tabled the 12MP mid-term review on Monday in the Dewan Rakyat. The Dewan Rakyat is currently holding a six-day special parliamentary session to debate the matter. - Mkini