KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has come to the defence of Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah over an MP’s claim that the latter is a death-fearing publicity seeker in the country’s fight against Covid-19.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Dr Mahathir (Pejuang-Langkawi) joked that he did not think Noor Hisham was scared of death, as asserted yesterday by Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (PDP-Bintulu) over his supposed reluctance “to go to the ground”.
He said this is because death is already certain.
“I acknowledge that we have done well in handling Covid-19,” the 95-year-old former prime minister said.
“I laud Noor Hisham. I do not think that he is afraid of dying. Every one of us will die,” Dr Mahathir quipped during the Budget 2021 debate session.
He also expressed his wish and that of his party Pejuang, which has four MPs, to hold back from voting on Budget 2021.
“I reserve myself and my party from either supporting or rejecting Perikatan Nasional’s Budget 2021,” said Dr Mahathir.
He also hoped that any sound suggestions proposed in the Dewan Rakyat would be added to the budget.
Dr Mahathir also gave several recommendations, such as the need for the government to focus on online trading, concentrate on mixed and vertical farmings, and shorten business registration and approval time.
“If Budget 2021 is to be implemented, the approval process should be shortened. A lot of money from the government and private (sectors) can be saved if the approval (process) is simplified.
“Political elements should not interfere with the administrative process. Politicians should stop their involvement in executive matters,” he said. – The Vibes, November 12, 2020
