KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has questioned the seeming inaction of cabinet ministers in following up to government initiatives.
Citing the announcements on the government's success in attracting "hundreds of billions" worth of foreign direct investments (FDI) and the many memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed with various countries in sectors such as telecommunications, security, energy and automotive as example, he said there had been no further action taken.
"What is the further action being taken? It is not enough to just issue statements through press conferences or social media.
"Action must not only be taken, but must also be seen and felt to be taken," he said.
He earlier reprimanded the unity government ministers, claiming that they were not particularly "interested" in the 2024 Budget.
He said while he closely followed the budget announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier this month, there had been no immediate action taken, especially by cabinet ministers.
During the debate on the 2024 Budget in Parliament today, the Sembrong member of Parliament said it was impossible for Anwar to resolve all the issues alone.
"Yes, I hear and follow the announcements and plans, but I feel that there is no sense of urgency and focus, nor action from ministers involved.
"Their attendance record is as though they don't care to listen to the debates on the matter.
"This is worrying... I am not here to point fingers at anyone, but I am only here to give my views so the government is seen as an entity capable of providing hope and support to the people, he said.
Hishammuddin said cabinet ministers should put themselves in peoples shoes, feel their hardships and consider their concerns.
"It's not just about formulas. Insya-Allah (God willing), such actions will be in line with what is needed and expected by the people," he said.
In recent weeks, the ministry of trade and industry (Miti) announced, among others, that it expected FDI from Japan to exceed RM143.4 billion this year.
In April, following Miti minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz's visit to China, he announced that the trip had generated RM170 billion of potential FDI from the country.
Last month, Tengku Zafrul led a delegation to Singapore.
Miti then announced it had secured a total of RM20 billion, RM7 billion of which followed the visit.
The Chinese FDI commitment became the subject of debate with suggestions that some of the Chinese companies that signed the MoU's did not have a proper track record.