First cabinet meeting to discuss ministries’ austerity

IPOH - The first cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held next Monday, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the meeting must be held immediately as soon as the list was unveiled this afternoon.

"For me, the priority is to call a cabinet meeting on Monday to set some rules (such as) on the way they manage ministries, the way they save, not spending more than usual.

"We have restored some investor confidence. For example, the ringgit is getting stronger, hence the cost of imports can be reduced.

“When the cost of imports can be reduced, the cost of feed, poultry, fertiliser can be reduced," he said in his speech at the Kenduri Rakyat programme near the Muhammad Al-Fateh Mosque, Taman Jati here on Friday.

Also present at the programme was Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

Anwar also reiterated that the cabinet size would be smaller and there would be no more special ambassadors to save the country's funds.

He said the matter was also presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

Meanwhile, Anwar explained his visit to the Tambun Parliamentary constituency today was the first official programme outside Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur after being appointed as Prime Minister.

Apart from the Kenduri Rakyat programme, Anwar met with the community at Tanjung Rambutan Public Market before performing Friday prayers at the Muhammad Al-Fateh Mosque, Taman Jati here.