Differing Views Among Ministries Part Of Healthy Policy Process, Says PM Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 – Differing views or distinct policy approaches among government ministries do not reflect internal division within the Cabinet, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim affirmed.

Instead, Anwar described these differing perspectives as part of a healthy policy deliberation process that accounts for respective departmental jurisdictions, statutory duties, and strategic priorities to advance the MADANI Government’s agenda effectively.

In a written response published on the Parliament website on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Prime Minister answered a query from Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) regarding recent public discrepancies between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.

Anwar explained that inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms are systematically maintained to harmonize policy objectives, streamline overlapping responsibilities, and protect the public interest within national financial limits.

“To ensure effective governance, every government policy and decision must undergo proper deliberation and coordination,” stated Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister. “Matters requiring a collective decision will be tabled for Cabinet consideration and approval, in line with the principle of collective ministerial responsibility.”

He reassured Parliament that the administration remains focused on enhancing inter-ministerial collaboration, tracking policy implementation outcomes, and monitoring economic metrics continuously to safeguard national economic resilience against global headwinds.

Inter-Ministerial Governance, Cabinet Collective Responsibility, and Policy Alignment

Key policy governance principles, Cabinet mechanisms, and monitoring frameworks highlighted include:

• Policy Deliberation Framework: Varied ministerial viewpoints represent constructive policy formulation tailored to individual ministry jurisdictions rather than political friction.
• Collective Ministerial Responsibility: Key cross-ministerial decisions undergo systematic Cabinet review and approval to enforce unified policy execution.
• Elimination of Overlaps: Federal agencies systematically coordinate to prevent redundant functions and optimize public expenditure.
• Economic Resilience Monitoring: National economic indicators are continually evaluated to refine social policies and absorb external economic volatility.

–NMT