Dr M: GLC chiefs will not get big salaries

However, they will be rewarded with bonuses if they perform well, the prime minister says.

Mahathir says the 17,000 political appointees by the previous government include some ambassadors who have no capabilities. (Bernama pic)

JAKARTA: The chief executives or directors of government-linked companies (GLCs) under the Pakatan Harapan government will be true professionals and won’t be paid high salaries, Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

The prime minister said the previous Barisan Nasional government had put many political appointees in charge of GLCs although they lacked management capabilities and they were paid high salaries.

GLC chief executives or directors under the PH government would not be paid high salaries but would be rewarded with a bonus only if they performed well, he said.

“We (the PH government) will look for professionals as far as possible.

“We will give preference to people who have experience in management,” he told Malaysian journalists here.

Mahathir, who is on a two-day official visit to Indonesia, said 17,000 political appointments had been made by the previous government.

“Generally, we found that these people were selected because they were party supporters.

“But they were inefficient and paid high salaries. In the end, their management and projects failed.

“The 17,000 political appointees by the previous government included some ambassadors who have no capabilities,” he said.

Mahathir also said any minister found to be involved in corruption or irregularities would be dropped from the PH Cabinet. They would be removed immediately.

He was asked on the criteria for the appointment of the Cabinet ministers, a second batch of whom would be sworn in at Istana Negara on July 2.

Mahathir has so far appointed 13 ministers. -FMT