‘ALL CAN HAVE SAY ON WHICH MINISTER TO SACK’
But Dr M, in responding to Pas leader’s call, says final decision is his
PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has no issue with views on who should be axed from his cabinet. But at the end of the day, he makes the final decision.
“People can express their opinion, but I will decide (on any matter) if it is agreed to (with the consensus) by the five parties forming the coalition,” he said after the soft launch of the Kuala Lumpur Summit here yesterday.
The prime minister was responding to Pas deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s call for Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng to be axed in the expected cabinet reshuffle.
Tuan Ibrahim, who is Kubang Kerian member of parliament, had accused Lim of having failed in his task in the tabling of the 2020 Budget.
He cited an example of what appeared to be an imbalanced budget allocation for Penang at RM10 billion and the halal industry at RM10 million.
Dr Mahathir had on Wednesday raised the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle, and said it would likely take place before Malaysia hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit next year.
He had also noted that the reshuffle would not be “radical” until it affected the country’s preparations to host Apec.
Elaborating on the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle, the prime minister said the matter would be discussed at the upcoming Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council meeting.
He quipped that there was a possibility that the ministers in question would learn of the developments first through media reports.
At an earlier event, Dr Mahathir questioned the professionalism of some members of parliament who had been absent from the parliamentary sessions.
Speaking after launching the International Social Wellbeing Conference 2019 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, he said he would be speaking to MPs on the matter.
“We will talk to the MPs. This is the second time there is not enough quorum (in this sitting), we will have to talk to the MPs.
“They were anxious to become candidates before the elections, but after they were elected, they don’t seem to be very serious about serving the people.
“There are many other ways to express their views. If they don’t like me they can say so openly.
“I’m open to criticism. When we become a leader we must expect this,” he told reporters when asked about the sitting being halted due to the lack of quorum yesterday and on Oct 17.
On a separate matter, Dr Mahathir echoed PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sentiment when the latter said anyone who wanted to be the prime minister should not do it through backdoor channels.
“We agree that it must be through the right way,” he said.