JAKARTA: Cabinet ministers in the new government found to be involved in corruption and misappropriation will be dropped immediately, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"If today they are involved (with corruption), we will take action and sack them," Dr Mahathir told the Malaysian media during his two-day official visit to Indonesia which ends today.
The Prime Minister was commenting on the criteria of the new Cabinet ministers from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, who are slated to be sworn in on July 2.
When asked on the resignation of several government-linked companies (GLCs) leaders and senior management, Dr Mahathir said many of them were appointed by the previous government were not capable.
"Generally, we found they were appointed not because they were were capable in financial and business management, but because they were party supporters.
"In the end, all projects and the financial management failed.
"They were among the 17,000 political appointees in the previous government which include ambassadors who were not capable and inexperieneed.
He said thus, under the new government, only professionals will lead the management of GLCs.
Dr Mahathir said leaders of GLCs will not receive high salaries but will be given bonuses if they show a good performance.