Anwar denies sidelining Terengganu, says bigger allocation given now

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has denied claims that Putrajaya marginalises Terengganu, saying that his administration gives a bigger allocation to the state than the preceding government.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Finance Ministry in Putrajaya this morning, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said that funds are channelled directly to the rakyat, no matter their political alliance, instead of to the MPs of any constituency.

“Despite Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan’s explanation (on the matter) in Parliament, they (the opposition) keep calling us zalim (tyrannical).

“When I was in the opposition for decades, we received no allocations, including when Umno-PAS-Bersatu were the government. It wasn’t tyrannical then, but it is now?

“Can (Islamic) laws change according to political alliance? If it was tyrannical then, yes, it is tyrannical now,” Anwar quipped.

Obligations fulfilled

During a Dewan Rakyat session on March 6, Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (PN-Kemaman) asked for an explanation from Anwar on the arrears in oil royalty payments to his state for last year.

The PAS lawmaker claimed that the state has yet to receive about RM1 billion from the federal government.

Elaborating, Anwar said he received no allocation when he was Port Dickson MP (2018-2022).

Crystal Mosque in Kuala Terengganu

“We move on. What’s the point of talking about the past, especially during the fasting month?” he asked.

In his speech, Anwar said the government has paid special funds amounting to RM786 million to Terengganu, for last year.

In addition, the federal government has also fulfilled all its federal grant payment obligations to the state, he added.

“In 2022, the government gave RM399.12 million (to Terengganu), while last year, we increased it to RM413.64 million. We expect the allocation to increase in 2024.

“The allocation to develop Terengganu has also increased from RM1.55 billion in 2023 to RM1.59 billion (in the budget).

“I have explained this before in Parliament, but they (the opposition) kept saying we were tyrannical and against religion, et cetera. They say it’s not a Madani (government), but ‘Madanon’ and more (insults).”

[More to follow]