‘PH GOVT HAS FULFILLED KEY PROMISES’
This was despite restrictions govt faced, says prime minister
THE Pakatan Harapan (PH) government did not hesitate to fulfil key promises in its 14th General Election manifesto in the first 100 days of its administration despite the restrictions it faced, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said PH found that the damage done by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government was worse than expected.
In presenting the developments over the past 100 days in a broadcast to the nation yesterday, Dr Mahathir noted that the PH electoral victory was achieved without bloodshed or clashes between the people and the authorities, as was seen in some other countries.
He said the previous government had intimidated all government departments and used them to conduct its party activities and not to administer the country well.
“The huge burden left behind by the previous government is the trillion-ringgit debt. Just repaying the interest can bankrupt us, what more repaying the principal sum. Talking about the wrongs of the previous government will take days. Therefore, we will focus on the promises made in our manifesto.”
Dr Mahathir, who at 93 is the oldest prime minister in the world, said the PH government started by abolishing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) before moving to restore the Sales and Services Tax (SST), which was awaiting parliamentary approval.
At the same time, he said, the government launched the process to fulfil the other promises,
as follows:
PETROL prices have been maintained (except for RON97).
THE Employees Provident Fund (EPF) scheme for housewives was launched on Aug 15.
COMPREHENSIVE studies have begun on mega projects awarded to other countries. IMPLEMENTATION of the HighSpeed Rail (MyHSR) was deferred on May 30.
IMPLEMENTATION of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Phase 3 was cancelled on May 30.
IMPLEMENTATION of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) was postponed on June 3.
THE Multi-Product Pipeline (MPP) and Trans Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP) projects were deferred on July 5.
THE process to standardise the minimum wage across the country and raise the minimum wage in stages in five years has begun.
A cabinet memorandum is being prepared on the introduction of the Skim Peduli Sihat healthcare scheme, which provides a RM500 funding for basic treatment at a registered private clinic for the B40 group.
A Royal Commission of Inquiry was not set up in the cases of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), Felda, Mara and Tabung Haji because investigations by several agencies are ongoing and the courts will decide on them. — The investigation into 1MDB by a special team was started on May 21;
— The investigations into Felda, Mara and Tabung Haji have also started; — The leadership at 1MDB was revamped on June 28; and — The leadership at Felda and Tabung Haji was revamped on May 14.
IT was agreed to set up a Special Cabinet Committee to expedite the review and implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
ABOLITION of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation blacklist was undertaken from May 24 to June 8, and involved 429,945 borrowers.
— Number of outstanding students who were given discounts or absolved of debts up to May 31 totalled 51,272 borrowers, involving RM1.56 billion.
TO abolish unreasonable debts forced on Felda settlers, three mechanisms were identified.
— An incentive to write off a portion of the extreme replanting debt through the provision of RM300 million for five years;
— Writing off the replanting debt of RM5,000 per settler with Felda, involving 90,418 settlers at a cost of RM452 million; and,
— An incentive to write off a portion of the remaining Felda Global Ventures share loan, involving 77,972 settlers at a cost of RM103 million.
Dr Mahathir said the government fulfilled the promise to resolve the citizenship problems of members of the Indian community and other communities aged 60 and above and holding the red identity card. Nearly 3,500 members of the Indian community would get the blue identity card.
Besides the 100 days manifesto pledges, other matters were achieved that reflected a comprehensive or holistic approach.
Dr Mahathir said an opposition member of parliament, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, was elected chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, which showed the willingness of the ruling party to be scrutinised by opposition MPs.
The Auditor-General’s Report on 1MDB was no longer classified under the Official Secrets Act, he said, adding that the PH government practised an open government policy and would not conceal any report on crimes committed by anyone.
“We also succeeded in securing a pardon for (PKR presidentelect) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as we had promised.”