MUHYIDDIN Yassin has again told Putrajaya to take the economic slide experienced by the country seriously and form a high-level committee to address the situation.

The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should not act as if all is fine with the country’s economy.

The former prime minister said Malaysia’s overall household income has shrunk since the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020.

Muhyiddin, who is also the National Recovery Council chairman, said the country’s poverty rate has risen from 40% to 61%.

He pointed out that the M40 group has fallen to less than 20% of the population while the T20 group now accounts for no more than 10% of the nation’s people.

“What does this mean? This is a great challenge to the country. That is why the government cannot act as if this is normal. It is unusual,” he said at a Bersatu’s 6th anniversary event in Putrajaya today.

“By right, there should be a high-level committee that is chaired by none other than the prime minister.”

The Pagoh lawmaker said the committee should meet weekly if not daily to resolve the problems faced by the people.

This is the second time Muhyiddin has called on the government to act on the sliding economy.

On Monday, Muhyiddin said Ismail should call a general election if he cannot fix the country’s economy.

He said an election would pave the way for a more capable government, free from corruption. 

“I am not pressuring the PM to dissolve parliament like what Barisan Nasional is doing, but if this is the way to save our country, so be it,” he said in a Facebook post.

“If the PM cannot manage the economy, better to have an election so a more capable government, people-oriented and clean can be chosen.”

Muhyiddin said measures that should be taken had been suggested to the government, but Ismail did not heed any of them.

“The PM did not address the steps that should be taken such as the ways to save our ringgit. He even said that this is not a big problem.”

In an immediate rejoinder on Monday, Ismail told Muhyiddin he was just as responsible if the government is said to have failed to address the country’s economic issues

He said Muhyiddin has also failed to advise the government on economic matters.

“(Economic affairs minister) Mustapa Mohamed (from Bersatu) is managing the economy, and we have the National Recovery Council, which is chaired by Muhyiddin,” Ismail said after launching the National Energy Policy.

“The National Recovery Council advises the government. So if the government has failed, that would mean everyone has failed, including the National Recovery Council.”  – September 24, 2022.