LANGKAWI – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad disagrees with an informal offer for him to chair the National Recovery Council (NRC), as he believes such positions should not be held by politicians.
“I had disagreed (with being appointed), on the standpoint that the NRC should not have politicians in it,” the Langkawi MP said during a constituency visit here yesterday.
“It will, naturally, only increase politicking when such matters should cease, to give priority to the sufferings of the people. There are many (Covid-19) cases, many suicides and some people are starving after losing their jobs.”
The former prime minister was commenting on claims that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had offered him the chance to chair the NRC, provided that he supports the government.
Dr Mahathir said the offer was not formally made, but was only brought up in discussions.
On September 15, his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, had proposed for Dr Mahathir to chair the NRC instead of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Mukhriz, who is also Jerlun MP, said Dr Mahathir was willing to resign as Pejuang chairman should he be appointed to lead the council.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, he had also panned the government for appointing Muhyiddin to the post.
He said that Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, had been unable to address the Covid-19 pandemic crisis in the country back when was prime minister before Ismail Sabri.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said that the government should focus more on the “voices of the people” rather than listening to politicians alone.
He said this is especially true now as the country wrestles the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the people are fed up with positions being created for politicians when the emphasis should be on addressing the public’s problems.
“The interests of the people come first. We as politicians have enough avenues to talk, especially when there is now no longer a state of emergency. But we must listen to the public about their fate and suffering.”
The 95-year-old said that he is saddened to read about the sufferings of the people due to Covid-19.
“At one time, there were even 500 deaths (daily). We must set the right priorities and (determine) what is unimportant that we should not be paying attention to.”
Dr Mahathir also noted that the suicide rate is also climbing in the country.
“Providing positions with ministerial ranking is not a priority now. The public is fed up with money politics,” he added.
“The focus should be on helping people who have fallen ill due to the virus, helping those who have lost jobs, and also treating people with mental health challenges,” he said.
On Muhyiddin’s stand that economic recovery needs to be hastened as the government is burdened with additional administrative costs, Dr Mahathir said that priorities have to be set straight.
“Giving politicians positions should not be (part of) the agenda,” he said.
Pejuang to contest 120 seats
On his party, Dr Mahathir said that, despite having only four elected representatives, Pejuang has support from about 40,000 people.
Due to this, he said, Pejuang plans to contest at least 120 seats in the next general election as there is support from people who are fed up with money politics.
Dr Mahathir also said that Pejuang will support the proposed anti-party hopping legislation but a comprehensive study must be conducted first.
“There are many questions that need answering, from the punishment for party-hopping to whether it can be considered right in some cases on grounds of principle,” he said.
The law should also prevent constant bickering among politicians, which leaves no time for them to serve the people, he added. – The Vibes, September 18, 2021
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