Economic Council For Self Interest Politics Or For Real

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PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s move to convene a new National Economic Action Council shows he considers his administration’s machinery ineffectual in handling key issues plaguing the country, says Datuk A. Kadir Jasin
I concur with him that we don’t need to pretend simply to protect anybody or any parties’ feelings. The reality is that, he says, after eight months governing the country, the Pakatan Harapan administration has not produced any tangible results for the public to see
MCA, meanwhile says the NEAC came short of representation from the private sector. Its deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon says it comprises mainly ministers and a former minister, with the private sector glaringly absent from the line-up
Private enterprises are an important part of the Malaysian economy and employ vast human capital. In addition, e-commerce and the digital economy also play a vital role in the current economic transformation trend
Nonetheless, he says the National Economic Action Council has not appointed any representative from private enterprises nor digital experts, and the line-up of mostly ministers lacked freshness and spark
It comprises of (while Dr M heads it), among all are Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking, and Works Minister Baru Bian from the Cabinet
The council also includes the prime minister’s economic adviser Muhammed Abdul Khalid, former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Permodalan Nasional Berhad chairman Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Council of Eminent Persons member Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Public Bank managing director Tan Sri Tay Ah Lek and Majlis Amanah Rakyat chairman Hasnita Hashim
There are also Bursa Malaysia chairman Datuk Shireen Ann Zaharah Muhiudeen, Asean Business Advisory Council chairman Tan Sri Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association CEO Datuk Paul Selvaraj, lawyer Bah Tony @ Amani William Hunt Abdullah, and Institut MASA director Nizam Mahshar
Some question the 'missing' of former Finance Minister dan Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and, of course his wife the deputy PM Datuk Seri Wan Azizah
Knowing that Anwar has vast experience in managing the finance portfolio, his absence raised a lot of speculations, some which led to the possibility of him being sidelined from the Cabinet and no way that he will become the next prime minister
No point discussing the issue. The boiling issue here is as to whether the Council really serves the country or for the vested interest of some people appointed to it? More than eight months after taking over from Barisan Nasional, PH has yet to really impressed locals and foreigners about their economic package and direction
No resistance mechanism was introduced to fend off the adverse impact of the world's economic slowdown or whatsoever. When some countries are having it, we don't and the government keeps on harping on the 'mistakes of the previous government' as to protect its weaknesses from the people
And that explains why our foreign reserves is shrinking badly, the ringgit value is declining and the prices of some commodities are spiraling
The fluctuation of transaction at Bursa Malaysia is also worrying us, not the foreign investors alone
So, what is the NEAC for actually? To complicate the economy more

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