'People interested in investing RM500 mil in Langkawi have come to see me' - Dr M

SHAH ALAM - [AMENDED] Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claims that a small group of ministers in the Unity Government only focus on seeking high salaries but have failed to carry out their responsibilities.

Dr Mahathir alleges that due to their pursuit of high wages, the current government is unable to address problems faced by the people.

"What ministers now are interested in is being paid. Nowadays, ministers receive much higher salaries compared to before.

"When I was Prime Minister, the salary was not as high as it is now.

"But now, being a minister is like being a former Prime Minister in terms of the salary paid.

"That's why everyone is competing to become a minister, and many are even interested in becoming chief ministers," he said.

He said this during the "Bicara Bangsa Tanah Aku Dulu, Kini, Ke Hadapan" programme organised by the Malay Proclamation at the Shah Alam Convention Centre (SACC) on Saturday.

The townhall session saw the attendance of former Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Ir Mohd Zin Mohamed, former Minister of Housing and Local Government, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, and Secretary of Proklamasi Orang Melayu, Datuk Marzuki Yahya, as moderators.

Dr Mahathir, who is also the proclamation chairman, explained that due to such administrative weaknesses, the country has missed out on investment opportunities.

"There are people who want to invest; they approached me and said they want to invest RM500 million in Langkawi Island.

"But they claimed that no minister was willing to meet with them.

"Furthermore, another person came to me and said they wanted to invest but received no assistance. So it's not that people don't want to invest.

"They do want to, but because of the lack of assistance, they go to Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines," he said.