PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad denied claims that he set up the Economic Action Council because he was dissatisfied with his cabinet’s performance.

“The last time I was prime minister, I also set up a similar council (NEAC) and I did not set it up immediately.

“It was very much later, and my cabinet gave me full cooperation and it was successful in the development of the country,” he told reporters at the Yayasan Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya today. 

Dr Mahathir was referring to the National Economic Action Council, which was set up when the country was grappling with the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997/98.

He said the current council was set up to listen to people. 

“If we only listen to ourselves we will go wrong. The EAC will enable myself and others to listen to the people from their angle.” 

Dr Mahathir said the government would have done it earlier but were busy. 

He said the council would be used to gather feedback and ideas on how to resolve some of the economic problems plaguing Malaysia. 

He said the current government was still dealing with the problems left behind by Barisan Nasional. 

“Because of the previous government having stole so much money, we find ourselves occupied with trying to resolve the loans that they had taken. So much so, that we don’t have much time to see to investor issues.”

Dr Mahathir was responding to Bersatu supreme council member A. Kadir Jasin’s claim that the council was needed because the cabinet was ineffective. – February 12, 2019.