Japan's new PM Suga leaves mark with reform push

Yoshihide Suga (centre) is applauded after he was elected as Japan's prime minister by the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo. PHOTO: AFP
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TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has been quick to leave his mark on his leadership, vowing to push through reforms to unclog the government's notorious inefficiencies even as he pursues the bulk of policies started by his predecessor, Mr Shinzo Abe.

The emphasis on reform was highlighted by Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato on Thursday (Sept 17), who said one of the new government's priorities was to "do away with sectionalism in government agencies and eliminate following precedents for their own sake".

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