WHILE the sum donated to Tabung Harapan was far from hitting the country’s RM1 trillion debt amount, Dr Mahathir Mohamad saluted its donors, saying they had made a great “sacrifice” for their country. 

“Although the amount is small compared with the RM1 trillion debt, what matters is our willingness to sacrifice because we love this, our country. For this country, we must be prepared to sacrifice,” he told 3,000 donors at a fundraising dinner in Shah Alam organised by the Coalition of Klang Chinese Associations.  

“We are not asking people to fight and die for the country. But your sacrifice is as good as fighting for the freedom of this country. 

“This is our country. This is our home. We were born here. We grew up here. We become business people and citizens of this country and for that reason, we love this country. 

“And it is quite clear from today’s attendance of so many people from Klang and Selangor that many citizens are prepared to make sacrifices to help rehabilitate this country of ours.” 

Total collection for Tabung Harapan stands at RM156.2 million as at 3pm today, according to the Finance Ministry. The associations donated RM3.48 million to the cause tonight. 

Dr Mahathir said organisers of the fundraising drive had also taken the initiative without any directive from the government.

“We are sure there will be more of such campaigns. Even though the amount is small, the gesture is important. 

“And because I am the prime minister, I have the right to say that, on the behalf of the government and the people of Malaysia, I would like thank everyone for their contribution, whether big or small, because of their love for this country.” 

He went on to lay the blame for the debt squarely on the previous Najib Razak administration, and that the new government now had no choice but to pay for its sins.

“Najib caused this country to owe RM1 trillion, and we couldn’t possible pay a debt as big as this. As a result, we have to halt projects that are not important, such as the high-speed rail and East Coast Rail Line, because they are not important and are not profitable and cost billions. 

“We will negotiate with the people to reduce the costs. This is the government that you have chosen. We will succeed because we received the support of so many people.” 

Present were Dr Mahathir’s wife, Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Selangor MB Amirudin Shari, Selangor speaker Ng Suee Lim, Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad, Klang MP Charles Santiago and business leaders Tony Tang, Tan Kai Kee and Paul Koon. 

Dr Mahathir also spared no expense in admonishing the previous administration and its leader.

“We never once expected that we could defeat a dictatorship that was ruling this country because that rule was supported by many people who were selfish, including officers in the government, in the army and in the police.

“They had investigators who always spied on the people, and they had a lot of money. Billions, owned by Najib, who came by it by stealing.

“He stole the money from the people. But the people could not do anything. In those days, if you lodged a police report, you would be arrested. 

“They thought they could not lose, that they were very powerful. They thought they could rule this country for the next 100 years, by stealing, and enjoy a good life for themselves. 

“But they did not take in account the feelings of the people, a multiracial people that did not like this dictatorship, which was known all over the world as a kleptocracy. 

“Najib believed cash is king. He believed he could do anything, including winning the election, but the people showed that money would not prevent them from rejecting a kleptocratic government. 

“It wasn’t only billions lost, but the government machinery has been changed and sabotaged. So, we have to take action to remove some of the officers who were involved in sustaining the previous government.” 

Dr Mahathir also rebuked Najib’s criticism that the PH government was dismantling policies merely because they were associated with the previous government. 

“He said ‘don’t take action against something just because it was a Barisan Nasional initiative’. But when he was running the country, Pakatan Harapan couldn’t even collect money. People who donated would be given additional tax by the millions.” – July 23, 2018.