‘Crime’ to appoint MPs to GLCs during national hardship, says PKR

Bede Hong Bede Hong Updated 6 years ago · Published on 14 Apr 2020 1:52PM · 4 Comments

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has criticised Perikatan Nasional’s to give all its lawmakers positions in GLCs, calling it ‘unprecedented and indefensible’. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, April 14, 2020.

IT is a “crime” for Putrajaya to give all Perikatan Nasional backbenchers positions in government-linked companies (GLCs) while many are struggling to make ends meet during this Covid-19 pandemic, said PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

He said Pakatan Harapan would not have opposed if one or two Perikatan Nasional MPs “with impressive credentials” were appointed.

“But if you make it a rule that every MP will be given additional positions and perks, when people are struggling to eat… this to me is a crime and we will oppose it,” he said during a press conference telecast from his Petaling Jaya residence today.

“You cannot appoint more than 70 cabinet ministers and (backbenchers) to GLCs for all the perks.”

He was commenting on Sunday’s announcement by law minister and PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said all Perikatan Nasional backbenchers will be appointed to managerial positions at GLCs.

Anwar also denied Perikatan Nasional’s accusation that Pakatan Harapan had similarly carried out political appointments.

“I am not here to defend any excesses, Perikatan’s or BN’s or whatever, but to do justice, we need to get the facts right.

“In the previous government, there were many professionals with credentials given the tasks as officers, and we did not make it a rule that every MP’s appointment was political in nature.

“The excesses proposed now is unprecedented and indefensible.”

Anwar, meanwhile, said he would welcome any government proposal to amend the law to allow Putrajaya to incur debt to pay for government expenditure costs.

Currently, the government can only raise debt for developmental purposes and not for operating expenditures.

“If it allows for more space to appease the problems faced by the poor, we are of course open to it.

“But before that, the government must take effective measures to ensure there is no wastage.” – April 14, 2020.

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Comments

  • You know it as well as we do, the big wigs is tying these FROGS not to jump especially to the other side besides having extra cash legally in their pockets, its as simple as that, do you really think they give hoods if any of these FROGS is capable or not, no they don't

    Posted 6 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • PAS green is greener than green. While the country is in grim and rakyat gripping in pain, their MPs are are grinning with the prospect of cushy positions in GLCs. Shame on you, PAS.

    Posted 6 years ago by Sameon says... · Reply

  • Surely the BN culture is back to stay.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • RIP PAS RIP PAS RIP PAS

    Posted 6 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply