According to an Astro Awani report, Mahathir said he believed the request for a meeting is related to the national recovery plan (NRP).

Earlier this week, it was reported that Tengku Zafrul had been appointed as the coordinating minister for NRP.

Mahathir, who is Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, said he has yet to give Tengku Zafrul an answer on the meeting.

“We want to see (how the NRP is implemented). To set up a body is easy but to do the work, to reduce the number of (Covid-19) cases, requires a lot of new ideas.

“I do not know what ideas this finance minister has on reducing (Covid-19 cases) but he asked to see me.

“I don’t know, I haven’t decided. I heard (he called) this morning,” he said after visiting the vaccination centre on Pulau Tuba, Langkawi.

Mahathir said he hoped the government would not add to the dissatisfaction among the people with plans he described as useless and only worsened the situation.