No plans to reduce public holidays

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has no plans to reduce public holidays when the minimum wage proposal is implemented as it has taken into account productivity.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said there are some things that must be addressed if the minimum wage proposal is to be implemented.

"All parties must ensure that the economy continues to grow, the people will benefit, and it will not stunt growth. These things were considered in our long study," he told reporters after opening World Kidney Day 2012 celebration at Dataran Merdeka here today.

He was commenting a statement by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the people's productivity will drop due to many public holidays.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the minimum wage policy for private sector employees will be announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak this month.

Muhyiddin said the government did not rush into making the decision and got consent of parties involved including the employer and employee groups.

"Factors like cost of living, inflation, location of areas, financial capability of employers, and impact on the economy have been considered. It will be anounced in detail by the government."

Asked about Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's claim that the government privatisation policy was 'privatising profit, socialising losses', he said the government had basic considerations.

He said its implementation had good impact on the people and could not be avoided as the government wanted the private sector to play a bigger role.

"Part of the growth that we see is result of the privatisation policy. Its not only pivatisation, it is the private sector role that we want to emphasise in ETP (Economic Transformation Programme).

"It will be the socio-economic main driver as the private sector will become the engine of growth with the government as facilitator and enabler.

"Maybe less privatisation and more private sector participation to provide whatever facilities and amenities required by the public."

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said the decision to prosecute directors of National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) lies in the hands of the Attorney-General.

He said it is unfair for any party to assume what will happen.

"It is better to wait for decision from the Attorney-General (Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail).

"Whatever the decision made by AG will be accepted. If he is taken to court, then is up to the court to decide. We can't predict something that is still incomplete," he said a report that police proposed that NFCorp directors be prosecuted for criminal breach of trust. -- BERNAMA

No plans to reduce public holidays

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has no plans to reduce public holidays when the minimum wage proposal is implemented as it has taken into account productivity.

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