KUALA LUMPUR: The government's move to review the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) is not a hasty reaction but has undergone a discussion process over the past two weeks, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said that the discussions began with the draft presented by the Economy Minister Secretary-General to the Cabinet.
"We've actually discussed it, and in my press conference a few weeks ago, I mentioned that the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) had given instructions to scrutinise the draft that was presented.
"As the public is aware, any policy, programme, or decision made must first be presented at the Cabinet meeting.
"So the Prime Minister requested that last Friday (June 27), all ministries review the draft and provide feedback to the Economy Ministry," he said at a press conference after officiating the National Aspirations Pulse Program with the Youth (Nanba) organised by the Community Communications Department (J-KOM) here Saturday (June 28).
Fahmi, who is also the spokesperson for the Madani government, said that following this, a special Cabinet meeting was held on Monday (June 23) to review the views from all ministries.
"In that meeting, many issues requested by the ministries were considered by the Economy Ministry in forming the 13MP document.
"That is one of the reasons why the Cabinet, on Wednesday (June 25), in the last meeting, decided that Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah, was asked to take on the duties and functions of the Economy Minister," he said.
Earlier, former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli reportedly questioned the government's move to review 13MP as a hasty reaction to social media criticism.
This follows the announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, on Friday, stating that Amir Hamzah has been tasked with "restructuring and revising" the 13MP while performing the duties and functions of the Economy Minister with immediate effect. - Bernama
