Malaysian Minister of Economic Affairs Mohamed Azmin Ali (Photo: www.thestar.com.my) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – TheMalaysian Government has agreed that cabinet ministers going on short businesstrips will not be allowed to bring their spouses along, a move aimed to cut publicexpenditure.
Speaking with reporters, Malaysian Minister of EconomicAffairs Mohamed Azmin Ali said the immediate directive was approved in a recentmeeting of the cabinet.
For a working visit of less than sevendays, a minister can be accompanied by only two aids, he said.
The ministers can bring their spouses ifthey fork out their own expenses for trips less than seven days, he added.
However, the directive does not apply tothe Prime Minister as his wife is still required to carry out official dutiesin the countries visit.
Reducing public spending to curb public debt is oneof the major priorities of Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad since he assumed powerin May 2018.
He previously announced that salaries ofCabinet ministers will be cut by 10 percent with immediate effect. He explainedthis measure comes as the new government looks to reduce the government's debt,which is in excess of 1 trillion ringgit (251.5 billion USD).
In addition, he is working to narrowdown the government and seize assets related to the 1Malaysia DevelopmentBerhad (1MDB) State fund. He announced that the Land Public TransportCommission and other government-linked agencies will be disbanded.
The Malaysian PM also has reviewed allbillion-dollar infrastructure projects, many of which were cancelled orsuspended due to budget limitation.-VNA
Speaking with reporters, Malaysian Minister of EconomicAffairs Mohamed Azmin Ali said the immediate directive was approved in a recentmeeting of the cabinet.
For a working visit of less than sevendays, a minister can be accompanied by only two aids, he said.
The ministers can bring their spouses ifthey fork out their own expenses for trips less than seven days, he added.
However, the directive does not apply tothe Prime Minister as his wife is still required to carry out official dutiesin the countries visit.
Reducing public spending to curb public debt is oneof the major priorities of Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad since he assumed powerin May 2018.
He previously announced that salaries ofCabinet ministers will be cut by 10 percent with immediate effect. He explainedthis measure comes as the new government looks to reduce the government's debt,which is in excess of 1 trillion ringgit (251.5 billion USD).
In addition, he is working to narrowdown the government and seize assets related to the 1Malaysia DevelopmentBerhad (1MDB) State fund. He announced that the Land Public TransportCommission and other government-linked agencies will be disbanded.
The Malaysian PM also has reviewed allbillion-dollar infrastructure projects, many of which were cancelled orsuspended due to budget limitation.-VNA
VNA
