The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has promised not to do what the previous government did – failing to uphold the people’s trust, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
He said he and the PH coalition could be toppled by the people if they did anything contrary to the laws and religion.
Dr Mahathir was speaking at the opening of the 29th general meeting of the Koperasi Pembangunan Daerah Langkawi.
“Tell me if I cheat. I can be dropped. Likewise, the Pakatan Harapan elected representatives who cheat or do not uphold the trust can be removed as well,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said the previous government had unabashedly stolen public funds and, claiming that the money was halal, used it to sponsor people for the Haj pilgrimage.
“How can this money be regarded as halal and used for the Haj pilgrimage when it was stolen in the first place,” he asked.
Dr Mahathir said the concept of trust was also important in the management of cooperatives because it determined the success or failure of an organisation.
He said those entrusted with the responsibility to manage a cooperative should carry out their duties with sincerity and trust.
“Any work given should be done with trust. Do not take what belongs to others. Cooperatives can sustain and progress because they always make a profit,” he said.
Meanwhile, Juhari Bulat, the chairman of the cooperative, said the cooperative had generated profits that had enabled the members to enjoy a 10 percent dividend annually for the past 30 years.
Juhari, who is the state assemblyman for Ayer Hangat, said the cooperative intended to venture into resort entrepreneurship after having successfully run a petrol kiosk, premix plant, hotel and motorcycle shop.