PNMB to be privatised - Ahmad Zahid

Deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Bhd (PNMB), an agency under the Home Ministry, will be privatised.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, said the ministry was now leaving it to the Public-Private Partnership Unit (UKAS) to evaluate several offers that had been received concerning the privatisation of the agency.

"An agency under the Home Ministry (KDN), that is the PNMB, may no longer be under the umbrella of the KDN.

"We leave it to UKAS to study and make a recommendation to the Cabinet to decide before other procedures, including the agreement signing, are implemented," he told reporters after the monthly assembly of the KDN here.

It was the first monthly assembly of the ministry that he attended after being appointed Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet reshuffle on July 28.

Earlier in his speech, he said although the ministry would be losing another agency after the Civil Defence Department, Malaysia (JPAM), the Home Ministry could not deny that aspects on the security of the people and country were under the responsibility of the ministry concerned.

"The departments and agencies under the KDN could still work together to realise the aspirations of the people," he said.

On July 29, Ahmad Zahid announced that the JPAM, which was previously under the auspices of the KDN, was placed under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) handled by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

According to Ahmad Zahid, the separation of the JPAM functions demonstrated the determination of the government to focus on the management of natural disasters.

Meanwhile, he 'challenged' officers and staff of the ministry to continue to upgrade their performance to achieve the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of 108 per cent as stipulated by the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU).

He also wanted the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) and the police to strengthen cooperation in line with the National Blue Ocean Strategy especially in the war against drug abuse.

He said 48.13 per cent of prisoners were those who were incolved in drug abuse, thus it was not only the responsibility of the AADK but also a core business of the ministry to tackle the issue.