Zahid’s views on NRC unacceptable, says Muhyiddin’s former secretary

PETALING JAYA: A former aide to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin took Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to task for saying the National Recovery Council (NRC) was ineffective.

Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad, Muhyiddin's former private secretary, said the Umno president claimed that many of NRC's recommendations were not accepted as the Perikatan Nasional president was not prime minister anymore.

"This is an argument that doesn't hold water as all NRC's recommendations were brought to the Cabinet through a memorandum and as a former minister and deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid should know how the Cabinet works," said Marzuki on Facebook on Friday (Sept 30).

"Of the 95 decisions by the NRC, 86 were approved by the Cabinet and nine more were awaiting approval,” he said.

As such, Marzuki said it does not matter if Muhyiddin is prime minister or not because when the recommendations are approved, it becomes a Cabinet decision, and therefore must be implemented.

Marzuki also said other than NRC, there was another important economic administration which was the Economic Action Council (EAC) chaired by the prime minister with members consisting of ministers and economic experts.

"Important economic decisions were made here and during the tenure of Muhyiddin as premier, the EAC met every Monday and decisions were brought to the Cabinet on Wednesdays.

"With the economic crisis the country is facing now, the EAC should meet frequently to make decisions on the economy, but I understand they haven't met for some time.

“The Umno president should urge the Prime Minister to have the EAC meeting soon, and not push for the general election to be held,” he added.