GE15: Azmin stands by MCO's "essential services only" measures

Datuk Seri Azmin Ali

AMPANG: The decision to only allow essential services to operate during the movement control order was the right one despite being bashed on social media for it, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The International Trade and Industry Minister said that despite this, the manufacturing and services sector became the main contributor to Malaysia’s robust gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the third quarter of 2022 with a year-on-year growth of 14.2%.

“Even though I was insulted and attacked, the truth prevails. These sectors helped accelerate our economic growth by 14.2%,” he said.

He said he was told this by Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus in a letter.

Mohamed Azmin then said that the successes of the Perikatan Nasional government can be seen in statistics and data.

“I presented facts and figures. I said in Parliament that the numbers don’t lie,” said Mohamed Azmin in a ceramah with Perikatan’s Ampang candidate Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif in Ukay Perdana on Sunday (Nov 13) night.

On the MCO, the Perikatan information chief said that it was a nightmare for him to strike a balance between lives and livelihoods during that period.

He added that he had to ensure that people were able to put food on their table during the restrictions under the MCO.

Mohamed Azmin added that the decisions made had to be responsible and based on data and science instead of emotions.

He then praised PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man for suing PKR Rafizi Ramli for statements he had made.

“He insulted the deputy president of PAS and cast a bad allegation, as if PAS is corrupt and involved in bribery,” he said.

The Environment and Water Minister has said that he will file a defamation suit against the PKR deputy president for allegedly claiming that he had approved flood mitigation works after the dissolution of Parliament.

Tuan Ibrahim said he had instructed his lawyers Messrs. Yusfarizal Aziz & Zaid to do so when he received a written reply from Rafizi's lawyer or after the expiry of the seven-day period that he had been given to apologise.