AZMIN BLAMES BN’S MEGA PROJECTS
Projects not transparent, off-budget and not part of national budget, says minister
ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali has blamed the previous Barisan Nasional government’s mega projects for having contributed to the “almost RM1 trillion national debt”.
Speaking at the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) office here, he said the amount had set off alarm bells in the new Pakatan Harapan government.
“We have to look at what contributed to this RM1 trillion debt.
“Part of it was because the processes were not open and transparent, and most (mega) projects were off-budget. The projects were not under or part of the national budget.”
On Monday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia’s debt had reached RM1 trillion and that remedial measures would be taken.
He said the country’s national debt stood at RM300 billion when he was the prime minister between 1981 and 2003.
Azmin had a briefing with EPU director-general Datuk Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid after clocking in at 8am yesterday.
He said his ministry would review all mega projects approved by the previous government, including the East Coast Rail Link and KL-Singapore High-Speed Railway.
On who would replace him as Selangor menteri besar, he said the Selangor palace would make an announcement when it had decided on a name for the position.
“Tuanku Sultan (Sharafuddin Idris Shah) has consented to me taking up the federal post and, at the same time, we will discuss the MB issue with Tuanku.
“It is expected to be announced soon, maybe in a few weeks.”
On Monday, Azmin said he had decided to relinquish his post as MB to take on the ministerial post.
The decision was made after he had an audience with Sultan Sharafuddin at Istana Kayangan.
Private secretary to the sultan Datuk Mohammad Munir Bani said Sultan Sharafuddin gave his blessings to Azmin to accept the role of economic affairs minister.
However, he said, Azmin would remain as MB until the sultan consented to a candidate to replace him.