Mahathir admits PH made promises without expecting to win election
PETALING JAYA Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has admitted Pakatan Harapan (PH) made too many election promises, thinking it would not win in the general election, news portal Malaysiakini reported.
The PH chairman told PH and Parti Warisan Sabah MPs at a closed-door meeting in Petaling Jaya on Monday night that this was why the new administration is facing a tough time meeting its manifesto pledges.
He also warned about the possibility of a backlash against the new government, according to "several sources" present at the dinner function.
"Actually we did not expect to win, we made a thick manifesto with all kinds of promises... We need to make sacrifices to fulfil our promises. If we can't fulfil them, we will need a good reason that is acceptable to the people.
"If we fail to deliver on our promises, the opposition will use it against us and we may be defeated in the next general election," the news portal quoted Dr Mahathir as saying, according to its sources.
PH launched its manifesto in March, which included 10 promises it would fulfil within 100 days of winning power.
Some were fulfilled, some promises were met halfway, and one is yet to be fulfilled, The Straits Times reported.
Among the promises fulfilled - abolishing the goods and services tax, the postponement of repayments to the National Higher Education Fund Corp for those earning less than RM4,000 (S$1,340) a month, and a relook at the awarding of mega projects to foreign countries.
Among the promises it is working on are stabilising oil prices, introducing fuel subsidies, introducing Employees Provident Fund scheme for housewives, investigating scandal-plagued institutions, setting up a task force to study how to return autonomy promises to Sabah and Sarawak, standardising and raising the minimum wage, and introducing a national healthcare assistance initiative.
The unfulfilled promise is abolishing the debts of Felda settlers.
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