PM: COUNTRY CAN RECOVER IN 3 YEARS
We can restore our financial position if we are patient, cooperative, says Dr Mahathir
PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said the country will recover in three years from the administrative and financial problems of the previous government.
Dr Mahathir said the present government had many plans that he believed could overcome the problems left behind, and called on civil servants to be patient and to work with the government.
“InsyaAllah, if the situation in the country remains peaceful without any unlawful incidents in the next three years, we can bring about the recovery,” he said at the Cuepacs premier assembly here.
Dr Mahathir said it was not enough for the efforts to revive the country to be executed only through political power in the wake of Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the 14th General Election.
“It is of utmost importance for all of you to understand our history and know what is being done by this new government so that you can extend your close cooperation to the government in the interests of the country, so that our country can once again be on the road to becoming a developed nation by 2025.”
He said the cooperation of civil servants was necessary for them to understand the problems the country faced, including the more than RM1 trillion debt, which placed the country in a dire financial situation.
“That’s why we were forced to cancel mega projects the previous government had initiated, scheduled or implemented. We had to reduce the expenditure on these projects. If we were to terminate the old contracts, we would have to pay compensation.”
He said a portion of the country’s income had to be used to pay the country’s debt, which caused the government to pay lesser attention to national development.
“I hope we can be patient. If we cooperate in an atmosphere of peace and calm, then we can restore the financial position and develop our country.
“It is not easy to pay off a RM1trillion debt. Everyone, including civil servants, has to tighten his belt a little so that we can reduce expenses and settle the debt.
“InsyaAllah, we will be able to settle out debts and, after that, the government’s income will rise and can be used to help with the cost of living of the people, especially those working with the government.”
Dr Mahathir said a high income would mean nothing if the prices of goods rose more than the salary increments.
“What is more important is to provide a salary that can buy more than before… it is for this reason that the government is reviewing the country’s financial situation.”
He said he was confident the civil servants would be with the government in restoring the country’s financial position so that the ringgit would be stronger.
“We believe that to reduce the cost of living and raise the purchasing power, we need to raise the efficiency and discipline of the members of the current administration.”