Former private secretary to Muhyiddin Yassin, Marzuki Mohamad, said the former prime minister did not have time to prepare Felda’s annual grant from the government.
He said after the waiver of Felda settlers’ debts was completed in 2021, the agency’s grant would have only been in 2002, but Muhyiddin was no longer prime minister then.
“They said Muhyiddin did not sign Felda’s grant amounting to RM990 million a year. That was Muhyiddin’s mistake. (He) waived the settlers’ debts but did not give money to Felda.
“Maybe they have forgotten. The debt waiver was completed in 2021. Therefore Felda’s grant at the earliest would have started in 2022.
“Muhyiddin had to resign in 2021 because he was removed by their lot. How would Muhyiddin have prepared Felda’s annual grant for 2022, 2023, 2024, and beyond if he already quit in 2021?” said Marzuki (above, left) in a Facebook post today.
He said this in response to Digital Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil who claimed Muhyiddin’s (above, right) 2021 promise to waive the debts of Felda settlers left the agency incapable of fulfilling its financial obligations.
Fahmi said it was only this year that Felda’s debts to various creditors were paid for by the federal government.
Muhyiddin and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are currently embroiled in a war of words over who should be credited for the RM8.3 billion debt waiver for Felda settlers.
Muhyiddin argued it was an initiative under his administration but Anwar countered that it only materialised this year because he arranged the funds to resolve Felda’s debt woes.
Muhyiddin further argued the two matters were unrelated prompting Anwar to furnish two documents which he claimed showed otherwise - a Financial Service Reserve Account (FSRA) agreement and a sukuk issuance letter.
‘Finance minister should have done it’
Commenting further, Marzuki defended Muhyiddin, saying the Pagoh MP was also not the finance minister at the time.
“The one to prepare Felda’s annual grant is the finance minister. Was Muhyiddin the finance minister?
“The prime minister has no power to do anything under the purview of the Finance Ministry, what more to sign documents meant for the finance minister.
“So, whoever was the finance minister at the time should have prepared Felda’s annual grant because that was the government’s commitment, not a personal commitment (by Muhyiddin),” Marzuki said. - Mkini
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