To access the US$20 billion worth of grants and concessional loans, Indonesia has committed to capping power sector emissions at 290 million tonnes by 2030 - and with a peak that same year.

A former banker says such power should be given to the government under the authority of Parliament.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says this is to encourage the youth to work hard and score well in their studies.

Nevertheless, they say the current overnight policy rate of 2.25% is still manageable compared to the 3.25% seen in 2019.

The minister says the matter will be reviewed after six months but 'now is not the time' to take legal action given the pandemic situation.

The government has issued letters to seize the assets used as collateral, but had not physically taken them over due to 'obstacles on the ground'.

Auditor-General Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid says half of the new loans were used to pay loans which have matured when they should be paid with surplus revenue.

China has invested more than US$843 billion to build roads, bridges, ports and hospitals in some 163 nations since the Belt and Road Initiative was announced in 2013.

The government can either 'politely' ask banks or flex its muscles on renewing licences or even invoke its emergency powers, says Derek Fernandez.

Tengku Zafrul Aziz also challenges Najib's claim that RM115 billion was borrowed from January to May, saying the former PM also included loans by government-linked companies such as Petronas and Khazanah.

New loan applicants should make use of the various programmes under initiatives like Penjana, they say.