Dr M admits corruption in his time, but insists policies still led to growth
Published: October 12, 2016 10:06 AM GMT+8

Dr Mahathir, who helmed the country from 1981 to 2003, told the portal that he did have some regrets during the time, including his 'failure' in being unable to 'change' the Malays. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 12 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted that his 22 years in office may have been marred by corruption, but the former prime minister contended that the country still flourished under his policies.

In an interview with news portal Malaysiakini, Dr Mahathir admitted that he may have had some bad policies during his time as Malaysia’s prime minister but insisted that it did not stop the country’s development.

"There was corruption, for example, but not to the extent that it stops the development of this country.

"The country grew much faster during my time than before, and that was because some good policies were implemented," Dr Mahathir was quoted saying.

Dr Mahathir’s administration saw a wave of privatisation in the 1990s, which detractors said have caused cronyism and corruption to flourish among those connected to the status quo.

The longest-serving prime minister said that although he was criticised, most Malaysians still appreciated his work.

"I think while I may have, in the eyes of some people, done something wrong, but in the eyes of the majority, I think they appreciate what has happened to them.

"People tell me that they benefited, they still say 'thank you' to me,” he said, adding that some even asked him why he had stepped down so soon.

Dr Mahathir, who helmed the country from 1981 to 2003, told the portal that he did have some regrets during the time, including his “failure” in being unable to “change” the Malays.

On whether Malaysia was on track to becoming a developed nation as in his Vision 2020, Dr Mahathir said that the country may have lost its focus to put emphasis on becoming a high income nation while other advances, such as sciences, research and industrialisation were not addressed.

Government gives greenlight to include A-G, MACC for projects worth RM500m and above, says Ali Hamsa

11 OCTOBER 2016 @ 4:34 PM BY AZURA ABAS PUTRAJAYA: The government today has agreed that all projects worth RM500 million and more should involve the Auditor-General (A-G) and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa said the prime minister, the A-G and MACC have agreed to the suggestion which was aimed at curbing abuses and corruption.

"They have given their okay (on this matter). Similar practice (getting the involvement of MACC and the A-G) has been applied in the past for mega projects. "Now, we will proceed from mega projects to government projects worth RM500 million and above," he said.

Last Thursday, Ali reportedly said that the A-G and MACC's senior officer could be included as exco members in the meetings for certain government projects, adding that the involvement of both these agencies were necessary as a proactive measure to avoid abuses in the public sector. Ali was met today at Association of Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants (Puspanita)'s annual religious conference.

Also present was Ali's wife Puan Sri Rohani Abdullah, who is also Puspanita president. Earlier, he presented RM130,000 of Puspanita's welfare contribution to 41 old folks activity centres located nationwide, five secondary and four primary schools that had special education classes in the administrative capital and to students of Puspanita's Special Needs Children Al-Quran classes. On the Congress of Unions Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs)'s call to consider a posthumous promotion to Customs officer Anisah Ali who was killed while on duty in a road accident in Kelantan last week, the chief secretary said due processes to proceed with the move had commenced. "We will promote her posthumously from what have been suggested (by Cuepacs) from Grade 22 to Grade 26," said Ali.

Anisah, 54, and two other Customs officers were chasing two vans at 1.25am on Friday when a 4WD rammed into their vehicle from behind, causing it to crash into a tree in Kampung Banggol Chicha near Pasir Mas. Anisah suffered from internal bleeding and was in semi-comatose state. She died the next day. On Malayan Trades Union Congress' proposal to reduce working hours to six hours daily from existing eight hours, Ali said no move would be made to cut down on the working hours for civil servants. Cuepacs was also reported to be against the idea, stating the proposal to reduce the working hours was impractical and might create unprecedented issues including a reduction in income and pension.

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