PETALING JAYA — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said that he is not easily satisfied with whatever achievements, and the same applies to his Cabinet ministers of whom he has high expectations.
He also underlined the need for speed in the implementation of decisions and actions.
“I’m not easily satisfied. If possible, I want things to be done yesterday, not today,” said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman after chairing the PH Presidential Council meeting at Menara Yayasan Selangor here today.
Dr Mahathir said this when asked whether he was satisfied with the performance of his Cabinet so far after they were appointed following PH’s victory in forming the new government after the May 9 general election.
The prime minister also said that the pledges in the PH manifesto had yet to be 100 per cent fulfilled due to certain reasons, including the PH government’s decisions which were not implemented by certain quarters in the PH government’s administration.
“We found that the damage in the government is far worse as some people are still trying to avoid implementing the decisions that the PH government made,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said this happened because there were public officers who were still loyal to the former prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“For example, ministers are entitled to get their own staff. Despite my approval for the appointment of their officers, these officers are not getting their salaries, and some have been working without their salaries being paid for up to four months just because certain officers are in the opinion that something is wrong with the appointment.
“It is only when the Cabinet decided to take action, the salary is paid. So, it was obvious that there are some people who are stubbornly refusing to accept the appointment made by the new government,” he explained.
Meanwhile, commenting on the appointment of Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik as president of the International Islamic University (IIUM) which received criticisms from various quarters, Dr Mahathir said: “The people gave their opinions and we are also sensitive to the reaction. So we have decided to review it.”
— BERNAMA
