Najib: Is Mahathir again victimising opposition states by cancelling projects?

The former prime minister says Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang were set to enjoy huge economic benefits from the ECRL project.

Former prime minister Najib Razak says he allocated huge sums to opposition states for development projects. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak claims the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government is victimising opposition states by proposing to cancel the multi-billion ringgit East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).

In a Facebook post, the Pekan MP said the opposition-ruled states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang were set to reap huge economic benefits from the ECRL.

“Is this a continuation of the action to punish opposition states when Dr Mahathir Mohamad first served as prime minister for 22 years?

“(PAS-led) Kelantan was (then) denied basic amenities like highways, water supply and sewage treatment infrastructure.”

Mahathir said after the Cabinet meeting last Wednesday that the government would try to renegotiate the ECRL project, failing which it might terminate it as the deal was too costly for Malaysia and included unfavourable conditions.

He said the government was still studying the ECRL contract and had not yet decided whether to defer or scrap the project.

Najib said that during his administration, he ensured all the states enjoyed basic infrastructure development, irrespective whether they were under Barisan Nasional or the opposition.

“That is why the federal government I led channelled tens of billions of ringgit to help with the restructuring of water supply in Penang, Selangor and Kelantan.”

Najib said he had also allocated more funds to Kelantan as it was lagging behind other states in development.

“I made sure Kelantan received more development funds for the people and for projects to upgrade highways, water supply and sewage treatment infrastructure.”

He said he didn’t care if the government wanted to erase his legacy as prime minister for the past nine years.

But if the federal government was intent on cancelling projects which benefited the people, it needed to do so transparently, carefully and obtain the people’s feedback, he added.

“Once again, I urge the Pakatan Harapan federal government to release the feasibility studies and economic impact reports of all these projects which are beneficial to the public.” -FMT