KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 15): Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Md Yassin (Bersatu-Pagoh) urged Putrajaya to “walk the talk” in curbing nepotism, noting that ministers recruiting their own children as government officials would give rise to a conflict of interest.

Muhyiddin questioned whether it is appropriate for a minister to appoint his or her own children as officials when the people are facing economic hardship.

“This has nothing to do with what the people are suffering today, the people are not interested to see the children of ministers or Prime Minister taking up posts, they want to see ministers and PM work for them.

“Stop playing politics and walk the talk. Although they are not paid a salary, these appointments give rise to conflict of interest which reeks of nepotism, something that PH (Pakatan Harapan) was against in the past, but today it has became a policy,” said the PN chairman during a debate on the motion of Thanks on the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Feb 15).

Although he did not mention any names, Muhyiddin was most likely referencing the appointment of Nurul Izzah Anwar as senior adviser on economics and finance to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Following public outcry at the PM's appointment of his eldest daughter to a senior government post, Nurul recently announced she was stepping down from the position but said she would be co-chair of a secretariat formed by an advisory panel for the finance ministry.
 
In his debate, Muhyiddin also refuted allegations that he had awarded a contract to his son-in-law during his tenure as PM as “slander and lie”.

“I also noticed that this government is in quite an awkward position, it is witch-hunting. They keep looking for wrongdoings by the previous administration that do not exist.

“Spreading words as if I have misappropriated RM600 billion, who said it? The PM said it! After that he changed it, saying it was RM530 billion, then RM90 billion, then RM4.5 billion, then RM300 million,” he said, prompting laughter from the Opposition bloc.

“What is this? It was the PM, Tambun [Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim] said it! From a legal point of view, this is defamation, I didn’t take any legal action yet, I pity him as a PM, so I give him chance first."

Muhyiddin called on the government to step up its efforts to address the economic hardship faced by the public instead of resorting to political manoeuvrings ahead of upcoming elections in six states.

“Maybe these are all because of the upcoming elections in six states, that he wants to paint a negative picture of all of us as if we are robbers, so the people won’t support us.

“However, I believe the PN wave that we have seen in the past will continue to sweep through the whole country, in these six states,” he said.

Muhyiddin warned Anwar that the latter’s premiership may face a backlash if he did not take public sentiment into consideration in running the country.

“It is not fair, and you think you can last forever? I was once a PM, Bera [former PM Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob] is here as well, we were PMs, but our time was short. Allah said he can ascend or descend us, I understand.

"But don’t presume that Tambun can be there forever, after you there will be another person. There will be backlash, I am warning you, don’t take it lightly.

“This is a difficult time, the people got no money, got nothing to eat, not even eggs. It is easy to solve. I was told that we are one of the largest exporters of eggs. We have a surplus, why can’t we just ban exports? Bera did it before, so that there won’t be eggs flowing out of the country and (we are) only left with (the) inflow,” he added.
 
Apart from banning eggs exports, Muhyiddin also urged the government to reconsider another round of targeted withdrawals from the Employees Provident Fund as well as a loan moratorium to help those struggling in these difficult times because of inflation and higher interest rates.

“Listen to the people who need help. What’s wrong with the government considering allowing another withdrawal from KWSP on a targeted basis, as long as this is what the people want, to help them weather the current difficult situation. Those are not the government’s money,” he said.

On his proposal for a bank moratorium on loans owed, he said the banks made a profit even during the Covid-19 crisis.
 
“What’s wrong if these banks continue to help the people by implementing a moratorium again on a targeted basis for a specific period to lighten the burden on the people, who were affected by inflation and an increase in OPR (overnight policy rate)?. The government does not have to spend a single cent."

Muhyiddin opined that it is important for the government to help the poor especially when most of them are Bumiputera.

“A multiracial country will not be stable and prosper if the majority race is in poverty and earns a low income, coupled with widening income inequality between the rich and the poor."

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