Dr M: ‘Pakatan made promises without expecting to win GE14’

(NST) – Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly admitted that Pakatan Harapan made some of its manifesto promises without expecting that it would actually win the 14th general election (GE14).

Malaysiakini, quoting sources, claimed Dr Mahathir said this at a closed-door gathering of PH and Parti Warisan Sabah members of parliament in Petaling Jaya on Monday night.

The sources, who had attended the dinner, said PH must now do its best to fulfil the promises and find justifications for pledges that cannot be met.

The report said the prime minister also warned of a backlash if it fails to make good on its election pledges.

“Actually we did not expect to win, we made a thick manifesto with all kinds of promises… we must fulfil our promises which is why we can’t make promises that we cannot fulfil.

“We need to make sacrifices to fulfil our promises. If we can’t fulfil them, we will need a good reason that is acceptable to the people.

“Or else, if we fail to deliver on our promises, the opposition will use it against us and we may be defeated (in the next general election),” he was quoted as saying.

The report quoted Dr Mahathir citing an example of PH’s promise to make the position of opposition leader equivalent to that of a minister.

The promise, he said, was made with the expectation that PH would remain as the opposition.

“But we won and now it feels uncomfortable to give the opposition leader an equal rank to a minister.

“That is the problem when we make promises,” Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying.