PERMATANG PAUH, March 3 — Efforts to repair a 60-year system left behind by the previous government is not easy and the new government needs time to do it, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

He said for 60 years Malaysia was administered by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government and after Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over, the country was burdened with huge debts.

"For 60 years, there was no change in the government. When we took over, we do not have enough fund. this is facts... the debts, if we don’t pay, we will be a country that is bankrupt.

"We (PH government) are only eight-months-old, it is not easy to repair an old system. This is not an excuse. We make efforts by holding meetings, setting up committees, on how we can reduce the living cost that we feel is burdening the people,” she said at a programme, ‘An Evening with the Deputy Prime Minister’ here today.

Also present were Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar and Seberang Jaya Assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin. 

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also PH president, admitted weaknesses in the new government with most of its cabinet members are new faces with no experience in the country’s administration.

"The government has its weaknesses. I admit, we are not perfect... our cabinet members are new, except for (Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and (Home Minister) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. (Finance Minister) Lim Guan Eng and (Economic Affairs Minister) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali have experience administering a state.

"Other than them, they are all new faces. We have to be realistic. However, we will try to rectify the situation,” she added.

Meanwhile, Dr Wan Azizah said she and her family were grateful to the people of Permatang Pauh for always supporting them, beginning with her husband, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PKR president, and now their daughter, Nurul Izzah.

Dr Wan Azizah said although she was no longer their elected representative, she would always remember the deeds of the Permatang Pauh constituents for continuously supporting them.

"I’ll never forget the deeds of the Permatang Pauh people. I am indebted to them,” she said. — Bernama