KUALA LUMPUR: The government should consider absorbing the staff of agencies which would be abolished, social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.
He said such staff should be absorbed into other departments and agencies.
Referring to prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s announcement of the disbandment of non-essential agencies such as the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and National Professors Council and Special Affairs Department (Jasa), he said any initiative by the government to cut wastage and save costs must be applauded.
Lee said it was only right for SPAD to be put under the Transport Ministry as the authority belonged under it.
He also welcomed the 10 per cent salary cut for ministers while adding that it was timely to reduce government spending besides helping to boost national coffers.
“The decision should be welcomed as it shows that they are leading by example at a time when people have high expectations of Ministers.
“It is a good start and at the first Cabinet meeting,” he said in a statement.
Dr Mahathir was reported as saying that the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government was looking to cut down the country’s debt which amounted to RM1 trillion and that the national debt was 65 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.