Those who accuse the Pakatan Harapan government as being directionless are refusing to acknowledge reality, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir (above) said the government has launched the shared prosperity scheme, it has been able to retain the solvency of the country despite a huge debt, and Bank Negara reserves, as well as foreign assets, are very big.

“We know the direction we are going. Outsiders may not. But we do.

“The accusation that this Harapan government is directionless is made by those who refuse to acknowledge reality.

“Are we really the same as the Malaysia under the previous government? Or are they saying they prefer the kleptocratic government better?” Mahathir questioned in a blog posting today.

He said the Harapan government is clear on what it wants to do and how to do it, but these plans will take at least two years or more to implement.

“For the observers, it would seem that nothing is moving. Rome was not built in one day,” he said.

Malaysia’s transition from an agro-based economy to an industrial economy also took time, he added.

This transition occurred during the early years of Mahathir’s first tenure as prime minister back in the 1980s.

He said most could not remember how long it took for the transition to take place whereas the young never saw the transition.

“Most were born when the transition was accomplished. It is difficult to imagine an agricultural Malaysia today.

“The same will happen now. The transition will take time – perhaps two years or more from now, but believe me it will happen,” he said.

It is already happening in some ways, he added, pointing to the switch to a paperless and cashless society, as well as digitalisation and the increasing usage of artificial intelligence (AI).

“Even for me it is frustrating to wait, but wait we must.

“The machinery of the government has been cleansed and is rapidly adapting to new ways of working.

“Even the ministers are adjusting to being in the government instead of the opposition,” Mahathir said.

He said the current government does not steal money or raise loans for money to bribe people.

The Harapan government, he said, only spends what it has, though it has less money.

The government is trying to create more jobs to provide more wealth to the people, but Mahathir said, the people must be willing to take up the opportunities created.

“We are doing all these. But we are not attracting attention to them.

“In time, they will become clear contributions to the country’s economy.

“Give the government a little bit of time and participate fully in the shared prosperity policies, and in two years’ time you will realise that the direction of the government is right,” he said.