PM to meet ministry secretaries-general today

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will meet all ministry secretaries general today to clarify the new government’s functions and roles.

He said the session would be used to explain what would be carried out by the new Pakatan Harapan-led government, especially in fighting corruption in the government’s administration.

“Tomorrow (today), I will meet all ministry secretaries-general and explain to them about our desires and what we will do, especially in dealing with corruption,” he said in a special information session with RTM and Bernama at his residence in Seri Kembangan here yesterday.

He disclosed this when asked what would happen to the 1.6 million civil servants as it was earlier reported ministries would be amalgamated in the new cabinet by the PH government.

On Saturday, Dr Mahathir named Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as home minister, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu as defence minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as finance minister.

Commenting further on anticorruption in the government's administration, Dr Mahathir said the government was very firm on the matter and did not want ministers appointed to be involved in corrupt practice.

The PH chairman said since the election campaign, PH had received many contributions to fund its campaign and now that it was elected by the people to become the government, contributions and donations would no longer be received from any parties, except with the approval of or declaration to the cabinet.

“Sometimes, people contribute in the form of gifts.

“They can be food and not in the form of valuable items,” he said.

On the new cabinet, Dr Mahathir said an announcement would be made soon.

“We will form a small cabinet with 10 people.

“We have three and we need seven more, with each party nominating the candidate and ministry of choice.

“I hope it would be resolved this week so that we can form a cabinet of 10 people, he said.

He said as the prime minister, he would vet the list of candidates before making a decision on their final post after conferring with presidents of the four parties.

He said the cabinet would function as a legitimate one, while the government would select other candidates, including from Sabah and Sarawak.

The complete cabinet would not have more than 30 ministries, he said.