THE members of the Economic Action Council were decided by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and will engage with other stakeholders for various input, said Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali. 

He was responding to questions on why Port Dickson MP Anwar Ibrahim, who is also in line to be the eighth prime minister, was not in the council, although he did not directly answer the question. 

“This was the decision taken by the prime minister but I am confident we will engage with many stakeholders in the engagement process to get input and responses. They include youths and business communities,” he told reporters at the sideline of the Chinese New Year celebration hosted by the Hokkien Association in Petaling Jaya today. 

Azmin said the council should have its first meeting to gather information. 

“This is just a small council to gather all the information from stakeholders. So we should allow them to conduct their first meeting and set the parameters – from there, we will go down and engage with stakeholders and discuss further,” he said. 

When asked if the report from the council will be forwarded to Anwar, Azmin said it will be made available for all Malaysians. 

Yesterday, Putrajaya formed the council which aims to study and decide on the country’s economic and financial affairs.

A statement announcing the formation said the council will respond to and act on feedback from the public regarding the problems it faced, particularly in economic matters.

Other council members include Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking, Works Minister Baru Bian, economic adviser Muhammed Abdul Khalid, former trade minister Rafidah Aziz, Permodalan Nasional Bhd chairman Zeti Akhtar Aziz and former Council of Eminent Persons member Jomo Kwame Sundaram.

The council also includes Public Bank managing director Tay Ah Lek, Mara chairman Hasnita Hashim, Bursa Malaysia chairman Shireen Ann Zaharah Muhiudeen, Asean Business Advisory Council chairman Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, Federation of Malaysian Consumers’ Associations CEO Paul Selvaraj, lawyer Bah Tony and Institut MASA board of trustees member Nizam Mahshar.

Azmin added that the members are “credible personalities” with experience in various areas. 

“This is just a council that will continue to engage with stakeholders to bring in views and input so that it can formulate and draw up immediate strategies to some of the compelling issues,” he said. 

The secretariat for the council is the Implementation Coordination Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Academics also lauded the formation of the council, saying it is well placed to address issues concerning the wellbeing of the people.

Economics and Business senior professor Shazali Abu Mansor said the council is better represented compared with the Council of Eminent Persons, and has less possibility of going wrong. – February 12, 2019.