Review of NEM should be for improvements — Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the review of the New Economic Model (NEM) by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government should bring about improvements to the country.
He hoped the changes to be made to the economic model were not just for the sake of changing what had been developed by the previous government.
“Do not change for the sake of making changes. The new government should work towards the betterment of the policies from where the previous government had left off,
“If there are so many uncertainties this could affect market confidence,” he said when met by reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday
On Monday, the Ministry of Economic Affairs in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat said the government would review all key national policies including the new economic policy (NEP) and the NEM to see if the policies were still relevant.
According to Najib the existing economic model had brought significant changes and strengthened the Malaysian economy.
He said the country had received various recognitions and even the World Economic Forum had recognised Malaysia as the 23rd most competitive country in the world.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said any review on the national economic policies should take into account the provisions of the Constitution.
“We have to safeguard the interests of the people, even if they touch on Bumiputera policies, and I feel it is not wise to revamp policies which are beneficial just because they were developed by the previous government,” he said. - Bernama