KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has told the new ministers that there will be no honeymoon period and that they will have to hit the ground running.
Government spokesperson Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil (pic) said the Prime Minister said this when he chaired the first meeting of the new Cabinet line-up on Wednesday following a reshuffle.
Fahmi also said a Cabinet retreat will be held in January.
“At the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister welcomed all the newly appointed ministers and issued a firm reminder to them to pay close attention to several aspects.
“First, they were instructed to take time to study and gain a deep understanding of all aspects of management and policies being formulated by their respective ministries.
“They were also advised not to make any rash decisions, instead give time for their officers and civil servants to first present their views,” he told reporters at a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday.
Fahmi, who is Communications Minister, said Anwar also gave space to all new Cabinet members to review several matters before any policy decisions are made.
“This is important because some of them are not yet fully familiar with or yet to fully understand the Cabinet system.”
On Tuesday, Anwar announced a Cabinet reshuffle involving 28 ministers and deputy ministers.
This included portfolio changes and new appointments aimed at strengthening administrative efficiency and ensuring more effective policy implementation.
On another matter, Fahmi said a RM30mil Media Innovation Fund will be available to local media organisations to transform the industry.
“The fund will be opened for phase one from Jan 1 to 14 next year.
“The initiative aligns with the Malaysia Madani aspiration to accelerate the transformation of the media industry, so that it remains relevant, competitive and resilient.”
The minister said the fund was set up to further boost and encourage the production of creative, interactive and high-impact media content.
“It is also to empower the competencies of media practitioners through training and support the transformation of the media industry through the development of innovative projects covering content, media technology and digital strategies,” Fahmi said, adding that it would help to strengthen the competitiveness of local media organisations in delivering accurate, relevant and beneficial information to the public.
He said all media organisations and media personnel must be registered with the ministry and had active media validation cards.
The fund covers four main scopes namely training for media workers, software and technology adaptation, equipment, hardware, and supporting facilities, as well as research and development for content creation.
For more information, members of the media can visit the website at www.komunikasi.gov.my from Jan 1 next year.
