Differing views among ministries part of healthy policy process, not disunity, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim clarified that disparities among government ministries are not a sign of governmental discord, but rather a natural part of healthy policy-making processes. He emphasized that these differences arise due to each ministry's distinct responsibilities, jurisdictions, and priorities aimed at effectively executing the Madani Government’s objectives.

Anwar highlighted the government’s systematic approach to coordinating between ministries, which involves aligning policies, eliminating function overlap, and making decisions based on public interest, national development priorities, and the government’s financial capacity. “Ensuring effective governance necessitates thorough deliberation and coordination of every policy and decision,” Anwar stated, who also serves as Finance Minister.

He elaborated that significant matters requiring collective decision-making are presented to the Cabinet for approval, adhering to the principle of shared ministerial responsibility. Responding to a question from Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) regarding conflicting stances from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development on various issues, Anwar pledged ongoing reinforcement of inter-ministerial cooperation, enhancement of policy implementation, and monitoring of initiative outcomes to ensure tangible and lasting advantages for citizens.

The Prime Minister assured continuous monitoring of the nation’s economic performance using current indicators to evaluate policy effectiveness and bolster economic resilience against global uncertainties.