KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 — The Madani government is not ignoring or taking the decline of the ringgit lightly as it is making continuous efforts to address the issue while simultaneously assuring Malaysia’s investment figures are still intact, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said the central bank has been assigned to monitor the ringgit closely. On the government side, the relevant ministries and authorities, including the investment council, are conducting daily meetings to focus on tackling the issue.
“It is concerning. We are looking ahead. But looking at the overall investment, which is the biggest ever in the country; inflation continues to go down and growth (is) sustained compared to our neighbours.
“So, I think (we should) look comprehensively and at the capacity of the country to grow. What is most important to me is the reassuring investment figures.
“They (critics) always compare with 1998 but during that time, ringgit was down, inflation (was) up, unemployment up and (there were) no investments,” he told reporters after the launch of Tun Razak Exchange as Malaysia’s International Financial Centre, here, today.
Decision on rice supply soon
Meanwhile, Anwar said the government will make a decision on the rice supply issue this evening after the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) meeting.
Anwar, who is chairing the meeting, said it will also discuss the initiative to sell other necessities including fish, chicken, meat and vegetables at cheaper prices.
He said any announcement of prices of goods, especially involving rice, must come from the government.
“This is a democratic country, anyone can give suggestions, but they are not decisions by the government. The government will make a decision this afternoon,” he said.
On February 17, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu was reported to have said that the government had yet to decide on having only one grade of white rice in the country, known as Malaysian Madani White Rice.
Mohamad said any announcement or decision made must be in accordance with the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994 (Act 522) and be communicated to the Cabinet.
On the resignation of three senior management officers of the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the matter was being handled by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who would then brief the Cabinet.
The officers are chief executive Datuk Ahmad Nazim Abd Rahman, chairman General (Rtd) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor and senior director of strategy Dayana Rogayah Omar.
— Bernama
