Govt can't afford to have too many agencies, says Dr M

- AP Photo

PETALING JAYA: The Government cannot afford to have too many agencies with funding from unknown sources, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Although these are government agencies, they were used and abused by a [political] party. We have to shut them down, " he told reporters after the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting.

"When we shut down these agencies, many officials and staff could be retrenched," said the Pakatan Harapan chairman.

He added that the Government is in the midst of collecting data on the officials and staff to find out whether they were involved in politics.

"We don't know where their money comes from. We don't 'steal' money, as we only depend on the Government's revenue. We can't afford to spend so much," he said.

It was reported in July that at least seven agencies under the Finance Ministry could be dissolved, especially those pertaining to economic development.

These agencies include Ministry of Finance Inc (MoF Inc); Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA); Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS); East Coast Economic Region (ECER); East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC); and the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA).

In May, Dr Mahathir announced that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and several other Government agencies deemed as "political" or “non-essential” will be abolished or redeployed - including the National Professors Council (MPN), Special Affairs Department (Jasa), the Residents’ Representatives Committee (JPP) and Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO).