PAKATAN Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the coalition will honour the rule of law and will not seek vengeance against public officials guilty of corruption should it capture Putrajaya at the next elections.

“We’ll respect the rule of law. It’s not our intention to seek vengeance.

“If the laws say people who have stolen money need to be taken to court, the court will decide what is right and the appropriate punishment,” said the PH prime minister candidate on Facebook Live today. 

He was responding to a question from a viewer urging PH to launch a large-scale forensic audit and investigate every minister, confiscate all stolen assets and return them to public coffers if it wins the 14th general election.

“We’re sick and tired of listening to corruption cases on a daily basis,” the viewer, identified only as Indra, said as Dr Mahathir read out her question during the session on solutions to the rising cost of living.

The judiciary, not the prime minister or executive, will decide whether those charged with corruption are guilty, Dr Mahathir said.

“This is our way, not vengeance. We want to respect the rule of law,” said Dr Mahathir, who was often criticised by human rights defenders and the opposition for flouting the rule of law during his 22 years in office.

The 40-minute session attracted 14,000 views, 3,000 likes and more than 2,400 comments, ranging from adoration for the former prime minister to ridicule for things he had done during his time in office.

A viewer panned his appointment as PH candidate for prime minister if the pact won GE14.

Dr Mahathir said PH would reduce the cost of living for Malaysians by managing the country’s spending efficiently and prudently, recover money siphoned off from 1Malaysia Development Bhd, reduce Malaysia’s debt, review unnecessary projects, reintroduce subsidies, prioritise local industries, raise productivity and eradicate the “cash is king” culture.

He also addressed two other questions from the public – on public transport and foreign labour. 

A viewer asked PH to increase public transport use while another asked PH to reduce Malaysia’s reliance on foreign labour.

Dr Mahathir acknowledged that both are issues that PH needs to address but did not offer any immediate solution on public transport.

He, however, pledged that PH would stop hiring expensive foreign consultants, a norm under Prime Minister Najib Razak’s administration, and rely on the expertise of local officials when it comes to public policy matters.

He said he previously led Malaysia to industrialisation and become one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia without relying on foreign consultants.

On Sunday, PH announced Dr Mahathir would be the seventh prime minister and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail his deputy if the coalition wins GE14. – January 10, 2018.