PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who hinted that there was no pressing need for a cabinet reshuffle now, said after 18 months, the government has achieved a fair bit, but this was not adequately communicated.
“The government is not good at communicating (to the public), but believe me that it has achieved a lot in a short period of time, including the FDI (foreign direct investment), which is bigger than before.
“We should be very happy but we didn’t tell you that,” he said, adding that the matter would be discussed in a Pakatan Harapan meeting, expected to be held this week.
“What happens to me is not important. What happens to the country and the government is (more) important.”
Malaysia’s total stock of FDI rose by 10.3 per cent to RM667.5 billion in the second quarter of this year2019 compared with RM605.1 billion a year ago.
Recently, The World Bank Doing Business 2020 Report ranked Malaysia in 12th position among 190 economies worldwide, an further improvement from the 15th spot the previous year.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking had said the improved ranking was due to the public and private sector members’ collaboration and commitment in the technical working groups under the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) to improve the ease-of-doing-business environment.
Dr Mahathir said he was unfazed over talk of a no-confidence vote against him, rumoured to be moved in Parliament.
“(We) are free to do anything, this is a democratic country. (Members of parliament) can call for a no-confidence vote as well as vote of confidence,” he said after chairing a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) supreme leadership council (MPT) meeting.
On the transition of power, Dr Mahathir said it was up to the party.
“They can sack me if they want to. If they want to do whatever, do it; vote of no-confidence or vote of confidence. We should keep our minds open.
“(Pas president) (Datuk Seri) Abdul Hadi Awang did not support me when I was in Umno, but now he has given his support. Thank you and send my regards to him,” he said, commenting on Hadi’s stance to continue to support him as the prime minister.
Dr Mahathir jokingly said no one had “come to punch his nose” and that people still liked him, drawing on examples of how people still came to shake his hands.
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had earlier dismissed speculation of a no-confidence vote, which arose after whispers that he had sought an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong this morning.
To this, he also conveyed his thanks to Anwar for the statement.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir denied being the mastermind behind the meeting between PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali with some 30 Barisan Nasional members of parliament on Monday.
“Maybe I’m a dictator, but I did not dictate this (meeting).”