NO MORE FREE-LOADING, FAT-CAT SALARIES: MAHATHIR BRINGS OUT THE GUILLOTINE – SPAD, JASA, JKKKP, PEMANDU, NPC TO BE DISSOLVED, NAJIB’S ‘SPY AGENCY’ TO BE REVIEWED

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today announced the dissolution of five government bodies and committees – the National Council of Professors (NPC), the Federal Village Development and Safety Committees (JKKKP), the Prime Minister’s Department and Performance and Delivery Unit (Pemandu), the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) and Land Public Transport Commission (Spad).

He made the announcement during a press conference following the new cabinet’s first meeting today.

In the case of the federal government-appointed JKKKP, the premier said the committee was also becoming too politicised and that its role could be carried out by other government offices.

Similarly, he said the NPC had also diverted from its role of providing the government with academic information, into a political body used to prop up the old BN government.

“Whether it will be brought back in a different form is uncertain,” he added.

Meanwhile, the responsibilities of Spad would be absorbed by the Transport Ministry, he said.

The government will also look into dissolving other advisory agencies formed under the previous BN government.

On a separate matter, Mahathir said the government would also be reviewing projects launched under former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

This includes the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), and Bandar Malaysia. – M’kini

‘We don’t need intel agency, we are quite intelligent,’ says Dr M

PUTRAJAYA – Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he would review the covert  Malaysia External Intelligence Organisation that had been parked as a research division under the previous prime minister’s direct control.

The prime minister said such a unit had not existed during his previous 22 years in government, but added that he had not been briefed on its operation and indicated it may not be continued.

“I have to review. I haven’t been fully briefed I know their activity is not good for the government, we don’t want to be spying on the people.

“We don’t need them, including their intelligence. I think we are quite intelligent now,” he said.

– Malay Mail