Najib blasts Guan Eng over Pahang’s financial health

PETALING JAYA: Najib Razak today took Lim Guan Eng to task for raising Pahang’s debt with the federal government, after the finance minister said the state would not be able to undertake development projects with its huge budget deficit.

The former prime minister said the same argument could also be applied to the federal government.

“Didn’t Lim say on numerous occasions that the federal government’s debts are too high, at RM1 trillion?” Najib asked in a swift response to an official statement issued by the finance minister today.

Najib also called on electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 and the Election Commission to take note of Lim’s statement.

Najib, who is also the Pekan MP, said Putrajaya’s budget deficit under Pakatan Harapan was higher than the figure recorded under the previous government.

Lim today accused the Pahang state government, one of only two states controlled by BN, of misrepresenting its financial health by announcing a surplus budget every year.

“Due the state’s weak financial management, Pahang cannot fulfill its debt obligations to the federal government, which is the highest among all states in Malaysia,” Lim said in a statement issued through his ministry.

He said as at Dec 31 last year, Pahang owed Putrajaya a total of RM3.178 billion, and recorded deficit budgets from 2014 to 2017.

Lim’s statement comes as the by-election campaign in Cameron Highlands enters its second week, with both PH and BN seen as standing an equal chance to win the federal seat.

Najib meanwhile questioned Lim’s attack on the Pahang state government using his ministerial position.

“I see there are people misusing power, information and government assets to release an official ministerial statement for their political party’s interest for the Cameron Highlands by-election,” he said, adding that the Election Commission and electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 should take note of Lim’s statement. - FMT