PM ASSIGNS TASKS TO MINISTRIES

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak, in an
unprecedented move, Friday assigned tasks, responsibilities and timelines to
various ministries and agencies to ensure strategies and measures announced in
the 2010 Budget are implemented on schedule.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, assigned the tasks at a meeting
with cabinet ministers and department and agency heads at the Finance Ministry
Friday afternoon.

In a statement, the Finance Ministry said the move was to ensure that all
measures implemented by the government would benefit the rakyat.

"Follow-ups will be conducted to ascertain that the desired objectives and
timelines are met. The Project Management Unit under the Finance Ministry would
monitor the implementation of 2010 Budget measures to ensure a speedy and
effective implementation," said the statement.

It said that the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime
Minister's Department, with branches in every state and in division and district
in larger states, would act as a troubleshooter of the physical projects on the
ground.

The statement said the Finance Ministry's existing technical committee for
the economic stimulus packages, which meets weekly, would oversee the overall
monitoring and address issues for the successful implementation of the 2010
Budget.

"The Prime Minister briefed all ministers, secretaries-general, department
and agency heads as well as other stakeholders on what needs to be done.

"They have been reminded that the welfare of the rakyat is of utmost
priority and that every effort must be made to ensure objectives of the 2010
Budget are fully realised," it said.

Najib tabled the 2010 Budget at the Lower House of Parliament on Oct 23,
themed "1Malaysia, Together We Prosper" and designed to lay the foundation for
the country's efforts to achieve a high income based economy.
-- BERNAMA