Restoring wealth in two years
Means to rescue Malaysia’s economy remain a priority to Pakatan Harapan-led government — PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who previously professed his intention to hold the prime minister post for just two years, has stressed that the government will prioritise efforts at restoring the wealth and rescuing the nation’s economy within this period.
However, he said the two-year period was not a time frame, but more of a proposal that might be achieved sooner or later, depending on the circumstances.
“If possible, in the near term, I want to overcome all the problems faced. That is my priority – to restore the wealth and economy and make the country one that is progressive.
“Money is not important if I succeed. What is important is the job satisfaction. This is what I am working towards,” he said in an exclusive interview with Sinar Harian at Perdana Leadership Foundation here recently.
The interview, among other things, looked at Pakatan Harapan (PH)’s role in repairing the damage caused by the previous
If possible, in the near term, I want to overcome all the problems faced. That is my priority – to restore the wealth and economy and make the country one that is progressive. — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister
administration, the focus on efforts at reducing the national debt, maintaining the relationship with the royal institution and Dr Mahathir’s key focus in helming the current government.
Touching on Malaysia’s debt of more than RM1 trillion at present, Dr Mahathir said no country should have a debt beyond its means and he expressed surprise at how the previous government could have allowed it to happen.
He said among the actions taken by the former government was accruing a large part of loans from other countries and foreign banks at high interest rates, as well as from local sources.
Dr Mahathir said in the meantime, the main thing for the government under PH now to do would be to ensure that the loans could be repaid.
On the basis of this policy, he said PH had resolved to reduce the debt, while finding ways to achieve this.
“That is why we are not going to spend anymore – we want to reduce. If we’re going to repay, we must find ways. It is not the norm to borrow to repay, as the country must not have debts beyond its means. We will spend according to what we can afford,” he added.
The premier emphasised that this was also a reason from the financial aspect as to why finances must be looked after, to ensure that it would not be mired in debt.
“Like (in debt) with Ah Long’s – if we cannot pay, they would beat us up. It is the same, if we cannot repay, he (the party extending the loan) would beat us, but more in words like ‘I will bankrupt you’,” he said.