FORMER health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Umno vice-president Johari Ghani were among several top economists and civil servants who attended a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the country’s economy.  

In a Facebook post, Anwar said the meeting was part of Putrajaya’s efforts to collect feedback on the economy from a cross-section of society. 

 “This evening, I held discussions on the direction of the country’s economy with economists, Johari Ghani, and Khairy Jamaluddin,” Anwar said in the post. 

He said the discussion touched on how to improve and draw in more foreign investments. 

The prime minister noted that the country was running out of time to correct the course of its economy and address obstacles in its way. 

“I understand any reform or renewal will require patience and discipline. It also needs confidence and the will to make difficult decisions for the good of the country and the people,” he said in the post. 

It was not stated why Khairy was invited. 

The former Rembau lawmaker was expelled from his party in January and is currently mulling an invitation to join Pakatan Harapan foe Perikatan Nasional to contest in the Selangor state election. 

Johari was previously the second finance minister in Najib Razak’s administration. 

Among the economists and civil servants present were Malaysian Economic Research Institute chairman Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute director Noor Azlan Ghazali, Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican, and Economy Ministry secretary-general Nor Azmie Diron. – June 16, 2023.