KUALA LUMPUR: The Unity Government Secretariat has agreed to form three committees, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the three comprise Strategy Committee, Election Committee, and Government and Political Agendas Monitoring Committee.
On the Strategy Committee, Anwar said communications would fall under its purview.
In particular, the committee would deal with defamatory statements against the unity government.
For example, said Anwar, certain religious figures had claimed that the government had failed to take action over the recent issue of the burning of copies of the Quran overseas.
"In truth, we made a strong statement and condemned the incident, and the Foreign Ministry even summoned the Swedish ambassador (to Malaysia).
"I also ordered the printing of one million copies of the Quran to be distributed around the world," he told reporters after chairing the inaugural meeting of the secretariat Menara Dato Onn tonight.
The meeting was attended both deputy prime ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as well as the various heads of the unity government parties.
Meanwhile, said Anwar, the Election Committee would focus on the elections in six states which are required to be held this year.
On the Government and Political Agendas Monitoring Committee, he said the committee would be looking at the manifestos of the various parties within the unity government and how to implement the promises that had been made during the 15th General Election.
The committee, he said, would also look into the rising cost of living.
Anwar said the meeting was also presented with analytical data on GE15 by two experts.
Based on the data, it was concluded that the unity government received the support of two-thirds of voters.
"This gives us an advantage and the statement I am making is to strengthen our determination to work as a cohesive and strong team.
"This is what we have agreed to tonight and it doesn't end there... we have also agreed to form a leadership structure which will meet every month.
"The leaders of the coalitions will be deputy chairmen while the leaders of the individual parties will be vice-chairmen," said Anwar.
He said Fadillah was appointed the secretary-general of the Unity Government Secretariat while Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki will head the secretariat.
Other party leaders will be members of the unity government leadership council.