DAIM Zainuddin today criticised the government’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and dragging the economy down along with it.

The government must address effectively the pandemic as the number of cases has been breaching four digits daily since November, the former finance minister, who chaired the Council of Eminent Persons during Pakatan Harapan’s rule, told Free Malaysia Today.

“There is no dichotomy between the pandemic and the economy. Get your policy right on the pandemic and it will follow that your economy will improve as well.

“If you get your policy on the pandemic wrong, the economy will suffer and will not recover,” he was quoted as saying.

Although the government had launched several financial initiatives and packages to help Malaysians overcome the financial and economic hardship, they are not feeling the benefits, he said.

Malaysians feel that the Muhyiddin Yassin government has no plans or cannot communicate its policies to combat the pandemic and revive the economy, he said.

“Many suggestions have been made by opposition MPs, industry leaders, health experts, NGOs and even the man on the street,” he said.

“So, the complaint is that the government does not seem to be listening.

“When the prime minister makes special announcements on Covid-19 aid packages, they are often so off the mark that they fail to address the issues raised by the very industries that are suffering.”

Daim also slammed PH parties for failing to provide effective checks and balances.

“They too have been in government, even if it was just for 22 months. Each of the previous ministers can be the shadow minister to their previous portfolio.” – February 15, 2021.