KUALA LUMPUR – The failure of Malay finance ministers was one of the reasons why Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad appointed Lim Guan Eng to the post after Pakatan Harapan wrested Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional in 2018.
The former prime minister said two other reasons for him choosing the DAP politician was the latter’s senior party position and good track record in leading Penang as its chief minister for 10 years, which saw the island effectively debt-free.
In an interview with Sinar Harian today, Dr Mahathir recalled how Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the current prime minister, had shown interest in the finance portfolio.
However, Dr Mahathir said he went with Lim because of how previous finance ministers, such as Datuk Seri Najib Razak, failed in their duties.
“Just look at what the Malay finance ministers did.
“Things were not right.
“We gave Najib that position, and look at what he did,” said Dr Mahathir, in an apparent reference to the former prime minister’s role in the massive 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, too, held the finance portfolio after Dr Mahathir’s resignation in 2003.
Not since MCA’s Tun Tan Siew Sin, who helmed the Finance Ministry from 1959 to 1974, has a non-Malay taken up the position – until Lim.
Dr Mahathir said Lim was also given the post due to him being the highest-ranking leader in DAP.
He noted that other leaders of PH components then – PKR’s Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu and Bersatu’s Muhyiddin – were also given senior government posts.
Dr Wan Azizah was deputy prime minister, while Mohamad and Muhyiddin headed the Defence and Home Ministries, respectively.
“You can’t expect me to give Lim the position of works minister,” said Dr Mahathir.
“He must be given a senior post, too.”
On whether appointing Lim to the finance portfolio was the biggest mistake he made when helming the PH administration, Dr Mahathir said “the biggest mistake was not splashing cash on the rakyat like Najib did”, citing the 1Malaysia People’s Aid as an example.
Despite making progress on many fronts, including combating corruption, improving the economy and allowing freedom of expression, he said, the people appeared more concerned about cash aid.
“We couldn’t treat the rakyat the way Najib did.
“We tried to reduce the cash aid, and the public started comparing me to him.
“That was the people’s main concern.
“Yes, there were some promises that we couldn’t deliver on, like abolishing tolls.
“It wasn’t easy. Billions had to be spent, and we didn’t have the money.
“But what the rakyat were asking for was the RM500 annual cash aid.
“They just wouldn’t accept it if we reduced it.”
Dr Mahathir has, on several occasions, said only by reducing such handouts would Malaysians become more independent. – The Vibes, February 17, 2021
