BERSATU vice-president Abdul Rashid Ab Rahman was only sharing his view when he called on Putrajaya to bring back the Federal Development Department (JPP) to disburse goodies to party loyalists, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Bersatu chairman said it did not mean that the Pakatan Harapan government would heed the call, which had appeared to go down well with the delegates at the ruling party’s just concluded second annual general assembly.

Dr Mahathir, who is the prime minister, said the new administration would not return to the ways of the previous Barisan Nasional regime, which had abused its power via the JPP to award government contracts to unqualified cronies which had subsequently burdened the rakyat.

“That is his view and he has the right to voice it. However, it does not mean that the party will follow his views.

“The current government will never resort to the practice of our predecessor, which gave (contracts for government) projects to their friends.

“The PH government will only award contracts via open tender. Anyone with capabilities and resources can bid for the tender.

“The qualified bidder regardless of their political affiliation will get the tender for the project,” Dr  Mahathir was quoted as saying in Langkawi today by the New Straits Times.

During his winding-up address at the Bersatu AGM on Sunday, Rashid had called for the JPP to be reinstated for the benefit of the party’s division and branch chiefs

Rashid, who chairs the federal government’s election reform committee, said the leaders would then be able to secure more project contracts, with the funds going back to their respective communities.

The call unleashed a flurry of criticism from PH component parties as well as from graft watchdog Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)

C4 executive director Cynthia Gabriel said Rashid’s call was disturbing.

“It is now absolutely necessary for Bersatu to reprimand Abdul Rashid for making such proposals which would only bring Malaysia back to how it was under Umno,” she said.

“The action against Abdul Rashid would also indicate the party’s credibility in handling such issues. PH component parties cannot succumb to Umno-style politics.”

Today Dr Mahathir said all leaders were entitled to their opinion as a matter of democratic principle.

“We are living in a democratic country and we cannot simply shut the mouth of others or block the views of the people.

“There are times people will sing praises, there are also be occasions they will criticise us. We cannot expect to be praised all the time,” he was quoted as saying. – January 1, 2019.