PAKATAN Harapan is unable to satisfy everyone as it does not want to repeat Barisan Nasional’s (BN) mistakes, said Khalid Samad.

“How different would we be from BN if my list of hires after becoming a minister consists of only Amanah division leaders?” the Amanah communications director said at the winding-up session at the Amanah convention in Ipoh today.

Khalid said PH had resolved to stop many of the previous government’s practices of appointing political appointees.

“So, when we hire people, it must be based on their expertise,” said the federal territories minister.

Khalid was responding to delegates’ criticisms about Amanah’s ministers and deputy ministers in government.

One delegate had asked why posts were not given to Amanah members.

Similarly, Khalid defended the government’s decision to give out less cash handouts.

“The government can borrow more money to pay more BR1M or dividends from Tabung Haji regardless of whether there’s money or not. But is that the responsible thing to do? And how long can we last if we were to do what BN used to do to be popular?” said Khalid.

He said the government can decide to abolish tolls or PTPTN loans to make voters happy, but it was the wrong thing to do.

Khalid said ministers had similarly told the cabinet that the government should not use its own money for a third car project.

“But when the prime minister met the Qatar government, they told us they have US$400 billion (RM1.5 trillion) to invest. So, what should we ask them to invest in besides another auto industry?

“It can’t be in batik, isn’t it?” said Khalid.

“So, it’s not true that your Amanah ministers are enjoying themselves and not speaking up in the cabinet. In fact, I only have RM1,000 left in my account every month.

Meanwhile, Khalid also defended his decision on the Taman Rimba Kiara issue.

He said he was faced with the conundrum of paying the developer RM300 million to cancel the development order and face longhouse residents who still have no homes or to let the project proceed.

“The court had ruled that the development order given was legitimate. For me to cancel it, we would have to pay them RM300 million.

“The longhouse residents, who have lived there for three generations, would also have to continue living in the 400 sq ft rooms. But what good would that do?

“Hence, we decided to scale down the development and the longhouse residents will get their homes and we can save RM300 million,” said Khalid. – December 16, 2018.