Don’t misinterpret Dr M’s statement on civil servants, says Muhyiddin

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SEMENYIH: Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday he hoped that the people would not misinterpret the statement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the number of civil servants is too large and should be reduced.

He said the statement must be well understood because Dr Mahathir did not say that the number must be reduced at once, but over a period through the process of industrialisation and use of technology.

“You have to read it in a wider context,” the Pakatan Harapan (PH) deputy president told a press conference at the PH main operations room for the Semenyih by-election here.

At a dialogue with Malaysian Armed Forces officers and personnel in Kuala Lumpur earlier yesterday, Dr Mahathir had said that the number of civil servants now was 1.7 million and that it was too large and should be reduced.

Muhyiddin said he himself did not agree that the size of the civil service should be reduced at once.

“I will not agree if Tun (Dr Mahathir) wants to reduce the number of civil servants straight away because I believe that civil servants are still important. It will have to be done in phases, but not in a year or two …,” he said.

On another matter, Muhyiddin said Felda and FGV Holdings Berhad faced problems due to the wrongdoings of the previous management and government.

“By right, assistance should have been given for the progress of the settlers but they are shouldering a burden today,” he said. — Bernama