'End culture of wasting funds' - PM not interested in new car, renovations

Newly appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said last night that no new official car will be purchased for his use, nor will any renovations be carried out at his office, as he wishes to create a culture of not wasting government funds.

“Think of what you can save - RM100, RM1,000, RM10,000 - which can be returned to the poor. I started with a commitment not to take a salary, but what’s important is not to waste the funds we have.

“This is a message to all department leaders to remember that in the current situation, we should start a new culture. Don’t use government money for our own facilities,” he said.

The PKR president, who was sworn in last week, told reporters that said all government money must be used efficiently for the people to avoid the wastage that was common in previous administrations.

He was speaking after a thanksgiving ceremony (majlis kesyukuran) at the Ashabus Solihin mosque in Sungai Long, Kajang.

Today, Anwar is set to hold a meeting with government departments and agencies in Putrajaya that will focus on lowering the rising cost of living.

He will attend the 2022 National Action Council on the cost-of-living special meeting at Bangunan Perdana Putra, Putrajaya at 11am.

Anwar, who is Tambun MP-elect, has said that tackling the cost of living would be his priority as premier.

He has declined to accept the prime minister’s salary and will only accept the allowance paid to MPs.

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