PUTRAJAYA has not ruled out disposal of Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s assets in bid to reduce the national debt, said the Economic Affairs Ministry.

“The government is still looking at whether there is a need to sell off its assets. On Tony Pua’s statement, that is his personal opinion and it does not represent the government’s view.

“There’s no point speculating based on the political secretary’s statement; wait for a government statement,” deputy minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin told Parliament today.

Radzi was responding to a question from MP Awang Hashim on whether the government assets to be sold would include PNB’s.

Tony Pua, who is the Damansara MP and political secretary to the finance minister, had yesterday said no.

“I’m asking as the sale of assets would fall under the purview  of the Economic Affairs Ministry and not the Finance Ministry,” said Awang.

Meanwhile, Radzi said the “spirit of the New Economic Policy (NEP)” was still relevant and that the policy would be improved from time to time.

“There’s room for improvement (of the NEP) and it should involve other races so that the process is more transparent and responsible,” said the Bersatu senator.

He urged MPs to be patient as Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will table the 11th Malaysia Plan mid-term review in Parliament on Thursday. 

Radzi was responding to a question from Awang on whether the NEP would be maintained and the measures that have been introduced to boost the Bumiputera economy. – October 16, 2018.