By Dr. Mahathir Mohd Rais
After nearly two years in power, rakyat are still asking: where are the promises of transparency and accountability that the Madani government often speaks about?
Several major issues have arisen involving billions in public funds, and these cannot simply be brushed aside.
The public has the right to know where their money is going and who is responsible for every dollar spent.
One of the hottest issues is the alleged fertilizer cartel within the National Farmers Organization (Nafas), which controls contracts worth RM1.8 billion.
How could such a large amount of public funds be handed over to a select group without strict oversight?
What criteria were really used to award these contracts? Was this just a formal process to protect the interests of certain individuals?
Another pressing matter involves Khazanah Nasional, the country’s wealth fund, which is supposed to make investments that benefit the people.
Yet, Khazanah reported a loss of RM43.9 million in its investment in FashionValet.
How could such a large investment lose so much money?
Was there any risk assessment done before investing public funds?
The public deserves to know if this decision was based on solid grounds or if it was a reckless action that ignored the people’s interests.
Recently, the Prime Minister announced an audit of over 2,000 government-linked companies (GLCs) to improve transparency.
The question is, will the audit results be made public, or will they only be circulated internally?
If the audit finds cases of mismanagement or misconduct, will the government take firm action, or will it just issue warnings without any real impact?
This audit will only have meaning if the findings are disclosed and actions are taken against those responsible. Otherwise, it’s just a political gimmick to calm public anger without any genuine intention to make improvements.
U Mobile’s Selection for the 5G Contract: National Interest or Private Interests?
The choice of U Mobile as the operator for the country’s second 5G network has also raised big questions.
Why was U Mobile, which has foreign shareholders like Temasek Holdings from Singapore, chosen over more experienced local companies?
Is this really the best decision for the country, or is it just serving certain interests?
Even more concerning, one of U Mobile’s major shareholders is Sultan Ibrahim, who currently serves as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
This raises questions about transparency and whether this decision was free from external influence and vested interests.
The 5G infrastructure is a critical element and should be managed without any conflict of interest.
The PH-BN government must remember that they are not only administrators but also custodians of public trust.
Public funds should not be used as a tool to enrich a few.
If there’s abuse of power or poor investment decisions, they need to take responsibility and act accordingly.
This is the basic duty of a government that upholds principles of transparency and accountability.
The loss of public funds through poor investments, mismanagement, or corruption is an issue that cannot be taken lightly.
Lawmakers must act to ensure that every public dollar spent is closely monitored.
Transparency is key to restoring public trust in the government, and financial reports and audits should be openly displayed to prevent manipulation.
The rakyat is more aware and vigilant than ever.
They are tired of empty promises and political games.
If the government fails to manage public funds responsibly, how can they expect the public’s trust? Issues like the Nafas cartel, Khazanah’s investment loss, and the 5G contract controversy with U Mobile signal the failings of this administration.
In the end, the unavoidable question is: Does the Madani government truly prioritize the people’s interests, or is it just continuing the same old political practices that benefit only a few?
About the author: Dr. Mahathir Mohd Rais, Bersatu Federal Territories State Secretary. This is an opinion column. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of this publication.
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