PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir today said the government observes the rule of law when it comes to matters of discharging anyone from the nation’s civil service.
"I'm not in the business of firing people. Sometimes people do make mistakes.
"And I want to 'pecat' (sack) some of the opposition members because they have committed a lot of mistakes but you know, we have the rule of law.
"We obey the rule of law unless something very, very serious happens, I don't 'pecat' people even though people ask me to do so," he said after attending the National Government Pledge Committee Meeting, here, today.
Parliamentary Opposition leader Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob earlier today urged the Prime Minister to advise the Yang-di Pertuan Agong to fire Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas.
The Umno vice-president had accused Thomas of interfering and abusing his powers in numerous court cases including the prosecution of two DAP assemblymen charged with terrorism.
This follows the decision by the Seremban Sessions Court on Wednesday to dismiss two charges linked to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) against Seremban Jaya assemblyman P Gunasekaran.
Meanwhile on the outcome of the committee’s meeting, Dr Mahathir said the government is very satisfied with its performance in the last one and a half years.
He said the country's image in the eyes of the world which used to be known as a kleptocratic government has changed.
"Pakatan Harapan had a smooth power transition, where most countries in the world have experienced riots and demonstrations for example," he said, adding that the coalition had taken over the government and continued the administration of the country while regaining the people's respect for it.
"We are accepted as equals, our words are listened to and applauded by other countries whether its Asean countries or the United Nations," he added.
Besides that, Dr Mahathir said many countries had also approached Malaysia to show what it had done which they in turn could learn from.
“If we are not a good model, these nations will isolate themselves from us. Even today someone came from abroad, voiced their admiration for this country," he added.
As the Pakatan Harapan government’s 18th month anniversary approaches, Dr Mahathir
said the pact’s biggest achievement was in being able to stay together.
"We had different ideas and you know where we came from. But we stayed together. Five parties and one of it is not even a member of the coalition. Where do you get that?" he asked.