CITING an overlap of responsibilities which incurs higher costs, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dissolved the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin-led National Recovery Council (NRC).
At a press conference in Putrajaya today Anwar said the council was established in July 2021 as there was a need for it at the time.
“Do you want it to continue?” he asked the journalists gathered at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Anwar was further quizzed about talks of dissolving the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC).
“We are reviewing the many overlapping government bodies. For example, the responsibilities (of GIACC) can be taken up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or police. Similar agencies have to be cut down as they incur high costs,” he was reported as saying by The Vibes.
“What is important is that GIACC’s principles are here to stay. But (overlapping agencies) cannot be so many, as I have told the chief secretary.”
GIACC was formed in 2018 during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration and tasked with planning and formulating strategies, and evaluating policies in ensuring all government affairs are done based on good governance, integrity, and zero tolerance towards corruption.
On Sunday (Dec 18) the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman denied receiving any money when he was the NRC chairman, clarifying that the advisory body does not receive any government funding.
Muhyiddin was responding to allegations by UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi who suggested earlier that he had received hundreds of millions of ringgit as NRC chief previously.
Muhyiddin was further quoted as saying by New Straits Times (NST) that even when he was leading the NRC, he did it pro bono and “did not take a single sen as an allowance.
He also said that he had resigned as NRC chairman before the 15th General Election (GE15). – Dec 21, 2022
Main photo credit: Malaysiakini
