PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Cabinet should be given more time to govern as many of the ministers were greenhorns, said Daim Zainuddin.

The Council of Eminent Persons chairman said the current crop of ministers were smart but they had never been in government before. 

“What is important now is to let them be. They are smart. But, they do not have the experience so give them time,” Daim said in an interview with Astro Awani tonight. 

The former finance minister added the ministers should be given time to learn the ropes.

“The cabinet has only been around for six months. Give it a chance. Do not go and disrupt it. Give them some time, maybe one year,” Daim said.

He said the current ministers should work with the civil servants and earn their trust as they were key to implementing policies that the new Pakatan Harapan government wished to introduce.

“We hope the new ministers would not politicise the positions. It is the duty of the government staff to carry out policies. If you disturb them, they will sabotage you. 

“There is need for trust here. Now we need to meet them, talk and earn their trust. This is a new government, it’s not like before,” Daim said.

Dr Mahathir has recently said he was disappointed with the performance of the ministers, who have been on the job for less than five months.  

The 93-year old also said there were civil servants loyal to the previous Barisan Nasional administration who wished to sabotage the new government. – November 1, 2018.