Memori Bersama Kumpulan 11- Bahagian 21

EXTRACT OF MAHATHIR'S BRIEFING FOR EDITORS

June 12,1985:3.30 pm-5.30pm

WASTEFUL SPENDING :WHY THE DAYABUMI SUBWAY TO THE NATIONAL MOSQUE? WHY PENANG BRIDGE WHEN WE HAVE NO MONEY?

Dalam Memori ini saya masih lagi menyimpan salinan penerangan oleh Tun Mahathir kepada Editor yang ditulis dalam bahasa Inggeris dan saya salinankan disini untuk perhatian bloggers ;

The subway,to cost$3 million,is important.We have a choice; a subway or a ovrhead bridge,because of the heavy traffic.

We have found that Malaysia don't like to climb, so overhead bridges are not popular.

Penang Bridge was first planned in 1970. We held it back,and implemented it a few years ago when we had money.

But this is not wasteful spending. Our biggest problem is with the Rulers. They like to spend money- a palace here, a palace there, in London, Switzerland,Orlando,here,everywhere. They want teh biggest mosque in Southeast Asia,for what?

The Istana Johore here-it costs $6 million to renovate.

The Istana Negara-$5 million was allocated to renovate.The final bill come to 426 million. The crockery alone costs $5 million.

I am not against royalty, but I am against wastage.All this money cpmes from the people.The Sultans think it is a great thing-borrow money for projects,and then spend it travelling and shopping,and it's all gone.

The King donates his salary to teh government,very good,but he insists he is paid his Johoresalary.He has so many palaces,and he flies here and there in his helicopter,all sorts of wasteful spending.

But because of the Constitution,we cannot criticise.

They are always demanding-they want land,they want money,they want projects. If a project is rejected by the government,the people will go to the rulers,who will come to us and say they want the project because they can make some money. If we still reject,then our relations become bad.

Now the King wants a new palace costing $100 million. We are trying to delay He wants an international designs competition. We say fine. we delay.Two years,three.Then he won't be king.Then we tell the new King the designs is not suitable,and start all over again.

Shah Alam-the Istana there has a fabulous dining hall,costing $8 million .And you know $8 million is a lot of money to a state government.

I have seen constitutional monarchs elsewhere.They never give problems.They are really constitutional monarchy,very nice people.The Emperor of Japan,he never asks for anything.But here,they want more and more,they get worse and worse.

In Tunku's time,they used to borrow $300,000. Now they want $100 million. One Sultan actually got $100 million. The banks will never get the money back. I tell them there's nothing they can do,they can't sue. I know of debts that have not been paid.

Unfortunately, as I said, the Constitution forbids criticism of the Rulers. I thank you for your support during the Constitutional crisis,but after that, the Press made the Rulers out to be angles,and they get worse and worse.

Politicians are not permanent,and must therefore behave.We have to go for elections.The Sultans are permanent,they don't have to behave. And the worse thing is,they cannot understand how difficult it is to make money.They ask,and we must give.

All applications for land are referred to me.Nobody asks me. If the Rulers ask,their state officials say the applications have been referred to me. I sit on them.Nobody asks,except the King.When he asks, I say under consideration. Selangor is one of the worst.

And the Istana in shah alam-no tenders called,and he keeps adding and adding,even when there's no budget.

In Perlis,we only allow the main palace to be rates free.But they refuse to pay for the others,and asks the State Government pay.What can you do?

They are getting worse and worse every day.

No that is a very big problem.