PUTRAJAYA (The Star) - Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has acknowledged waning support for Pakatan Harapan, saying this is due to the government's firmness in combating corruption, according to Bernama as reported by The Star.
He said certain groups of people were no longer getting their "extra pay" from certain parties which practise corruption.
"… we find that these people do not get any money now because of the anti-corruption measures. They are angry with the government … previously they were getting (the money), not anymore.
"So, we find our support waning among these certain groups who are well known for not only earning a salary but also making "extra pay" from other sources. This is one of the reasons that the support for Pakatan is waning," he said in a special interview in conjunction with the first anniversary of the Pakatan administration on Wednesday (May 8).
Dr Mahathir said these groups are disappointed that they can no longer earn additional income every month from irregularities.
"This is because if they were to continue with the act, action would be taken against them. So, they do not support the government of the day," he said.
The Prime Minister said the act of giving money to certain groups by the previous government also caused these people to be disappointed with the Pakatan government.
"It is true that the previous government gave a lot of money to various groups. Fishermen received salary, if they failed to catch fish they get a salary of RM300 a month, bachelors get RM450, there is also BR1M (1Malaysia People's Aid) and lots more were offered.
"If we were to carry on with this practice we will be just as corrupted. Giving money to buy support is bribery. We cannot do such things as we do not have the money because we do not steal," he said.
As such Dr Mahathir said the Pakatan government would continue with its efforts to change the people's mentality in rejecting bribes even though this is going to be difficult.
Dr Mahathir is confident that in future the people would understand and would appreciate the government's noble effort.
"We are going to make people feel that it is normal for them not to be supported by these people with money.
"Over time they must learn that they will get their pay, and we will try to improve their pay. After some time I think people will begin to appreciate, the public should appreciate because now they do not have to pay extra money to the corrupt officers," he added.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/05/08/dr-m-support-waning-fo...
