At a programme in Putrajaya today, veteran Umno politician Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor could not help but recall his past hardships when cautioning civil servants against being "swayed" and taking the governement's contributions for granted. 

Addressing a groundbreaking ceremony of two surau for Precinct 11K and 11F, Tengku Mansor said it was important for everyone to remember who they were and where they came from.

"I always remind myself of who I was back then. How hard life was that I could not become a mechanical engineer because my father became bankrupt.

"I had to carry gas (cylinder), help my mom and sell kuih in a basket, it was hard."

As such, the caretaker federal territories minister said he makes it a point to remember who he was so that he will "never make the same mistakes."

"This is why I always like to help people because I'm used to living a hard life and it was hard to ask for help back then.

"I remember taking the bus with my mother to the hospital, we had to carry my brother who had to have blood injected into him every day," he recounted.

"It's important for everyone to remember their history, if not, we can be easily duped by certain quarters.

"I am saying this so that I can free myself from Allah's (questions in the hereafter). I am fearful of God, as a leader, I am holding the people's trust."

Living within means

Tengku Adnan, earlier in his speech, also spoke on the importance of receiving God's blessings.

"A husband and wife can earn between RM4,000 to RM7,000, but somehow it's never enough. You should ponder this, maybe you did not receive God's blessings.

"We always live beyond our means, why can't we live within our means? There will not be problems if we live within our means.

"If you want to buy a car, wait until you have enough money. Wait until you have enough money if you want to buy a television set or bangles instead of borrowing here and there."

Tengku Adnan in his speech also touched on the various policies the government has implemented which he said have benefited the people.

'Easily swayed'

"It's not like I want to purposely mention this but sometimes we have to mention it because the society can be easily dibuai (swayed).

"I'm scared if you dibuai-buai and dibuai laju, you will fall out from the swing, swayed by irresponsible quarters,” he said.

"It's fine if they are responsible. (But) it's not easy to administer the country, especially a multiracial country like this.

"The government has spent RM24 billion for healthcare alone, this doesn't include education. There are many others, but we take them for granted without thinking how hard it was for the government to solve the rakyat's woes."

Civil servants, he said, should lead by example, especially since they are provided with various facilities such as living quarters.

"But I see that it is those living in such beautiful quarters who are the ones who ask many questions.

"It is worse for those in Precinct 10. One of them WhatsApp messages me every day that I wonder whether he understands what he's talking about.

"He used to be a civil servant, now he has retired. Why are you only raising things now? Why didn't you do something when you were in power?" said Tengku Adnan of his acquaintance.