DR Mahathir (centre) speaking at the press conference today.
PUTRAJAYA: The government is to establish a ‘Tabung Harapan Malaysia’ fund to accept donations from the people to help strengthen its financial position, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced today.
He said the fund was necessary to ensure that the donations from patriotic Malaysians would reach the Ministry of Finance.
“Many Malaysians, after knowing the bad state of the country’s financial position, are willing to make donations to the government. We welcome their patriotic attitude and express our gratitude to them,” he said at a press conference after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet at Perdana Putra here.
Dr Mahathir said the account number for the channelling of the donations would be announced soon.
The recent announcement of the national debt of RM1 trillion had prompted many Malaysians to express over the social media their readiness to make donations to help the government reduce the debt.
Dr Mahathir also announced that the theme for this year’s National Day celebration would be ‘Sayangi Malaysiaku’ (I Love Malaysia).
He also said that the Permata Early Child Education and Care Programme would be moved from the Prime Minister’s Department to the Education Ministry.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had said previously that the Permata Programme would be retained as it was a good programme that helped in the development and welfare of children but it would be subjected to a review and audit first.
Asked about talk that the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) would be dissolved, Dr Mahathir said the department’s position had yet to be discussed at the Cabinet level.
However, he said, a group of ‘ulama’ (Islamic scholars) and individuals knowledgeable in Islam would discuss the role of Jakim in the country. – Bernama