KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 15): Pagoh Member of Parliament Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hopes the government will give full focus on efforts to develop the national economy, and to protect the welfare of the people. 

He said this includes considering the withdrawal of Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) savings and a moratorium on bank loans.

“This should be the government’s real duty, which is to listen to the people who want remedies. 

“For example, there is nothing wrong if the government considers targeted EPF withdrawals if that is what the people want in order to reduce their burden in these tough times,” he said when debating the motion of thanks on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal address in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Feb 15). 

The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman said that banks continue to make profits even when the country is facing a crisis, and therefore it is only fair for these financial institutions to help the people by providing loan moratoriums to cope with the effects of inflation and overnight policy rate hikes.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said Bumiputera policies are another important matter that must be given priority by the government.

The former prime minister said that in today’s context, a large number of those who slid from the bottom 40% household income group (B40) to the B60 were Bumiputeras.

“A multiracial country will not be stable and prosperous if the majority race is in the poor and low-income group, with the gap between the rich and the poor widening.

Muhyiddin, who is also the president of Bersatu, said PN will be an effective opposition by ensuring that there is constructive check and balance. 

“PN MPs will continue to play our role with integrity, and uphold our ‘Caring, Clean and Stable’ principles. We will support good policies, but not policies that harm the people,” he said.

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