Vote for interest of nation, Mahathir tells MPs
BERNAMA
14/12/2020
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 -- Barely 24 hours before the 220 Members of Parliament participate in the final voting of Budget 2021 tomorrow, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called on them to vote in the interest of the nation.
“The people's representatives who love the country should go beyond the party and self and vote for the country,” the former prime minister said at a press conference also attended by another veteran politician, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, here, today.
Tomorrow, MPs will vote for Budget 2021 at its third reading. The budget was passed at the policy stage by a voice vote on Nov 26.
Hinting that the passage of the budget may face some difficulty at the third reading, Dr Mahathir called on the MPs to come together for the sake of a stronger future of the country.
“… I hope those in Parliament will begin to think not about themselves but the nation… not what I will get but what I can contribute for the progress of the nation,” he said.
The MP for Langkawi, who has been prime minister twice, said there is a need to revive the policy of political leaders wanting to develop the country rather than pursuing self or party interests.
Dr Mahathir said politicians should not expect to secure posts of minister, deputy minister or GLC chairman simply because they want big salaries without regard for the interests of the country and people.
Citing the COVID-19 pandemic that has had an undesirable effect on the economy and livelihood of the people, he said efforts must be taken to strengthen the economy and make Malaysia an Asian Tiger again.
Political adversaries Dr Mahathir and Tengku Razaleigh said they are prepared to work together and share their experience to achieve this objective in a bipartisan manner on the platform of developing the country.
Tengku Razaleigh said their cooperation was based on the premise of caring for the people and country.
“I hope our meeting today will begin on a good note, a new step, not giving importance to Dr Mahathir or me but with the people's interest above everything else,” he said.
