Discuss policies first, ministers told

Rafidah: Don’t announce matters before getting feedback from other stakeholders

SHAH ALAM: Cabinet ministers cannot run the country merely through social media and must look into the details of their policies before announcing these, said Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

The former International Trade and Industry minister said they should not be announcing their policies on social media and must discuss these thoroughly before announcing to the public.

“Don’t ‘govern’ the country through social media and don’t announce matters before they have been discussed,” she said at the Bicara Minda forum organised by Sinar Harian yesterday.

The details of such policies, she said, must be discussed thoroughly with other colleagues and stakeholders from the private sector.

“This is so that when you get their feedback – when you announce it for the first time – it is effective and people can accept it.

“But the zeal to announce it before a study has been made – this will be our problem.

“The Prime Minister has to rescue you, your colleagues have to rescue you,” she said.

The Economic Action Council member revealed that this was the advice that she had given to Cabinet ministers during an hour-long ceramah held last December, which was also attended by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

She said that while it would not be wrong if parts of the Council of Eminent Persons’ report was publicly disclosed, such matters fell under the Cabinet’s discretion.

Commenting on the heightened racial politics since the 14th General Election, she said the Umno-PAS marriage was a political move and not one based on principles.

“This is politics – they will be friendly with anyone. So, I am not too surprised if they want to join with other parties for political objectives,” she said.

She also hit out at the way religion had been used as political capital, and how racial rhetoric had been causing division in the country.

“If a person truly loves Malaysia and knows that it is a multiracial country; if that person purposely mingles with others, knowing that it will cause division – that is not leadership,” she said.

Refuting claims that she had abused her power with regard to the Approved Permits (APs) used to bring in foreign cars when she was minister from 1987 to 2008, Rafidah said she had ordered for APs to be withdrawn from over 100 permit holders when they were found to be selling these.

Those who had their APs approved, she said, also went through yearly checks by her ministry.

The forum was moderated by former Utusan chief news editor Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, who is currently a columnist in The Star.