Anwar announces extra RM1mil for every parliamentary constituency

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today announced an additional RM1 million allocation for each parliamentary constituency, saying assistance should be prioritised for the people regardless of whether their MPs or state governments support him politically.

Anwar, who is also the PKR president, rejected claims that he was withholding development funds from opposition-led states, allowing the people to suffer because of political differences.

“In fact, today, I want to announce that for every parliamentary constituency, I am providing an additional RM1 million directly for the people,” he said at the PKR national congress at the Melaka International Trade Centre.

Denying claims that his administration had sidelined Perikatan Nasional-led states, Anwar said Umno leaders had previously “objected” to the allocation of funds to them.

“My friends in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu have criticised me a lot. Many of my friends in Umno have also criticised me.

“Those in Umno said to me, ‘Anwar, this is the wrong policy. Why help them?’

“Even though they could see cooperation at the state level, they did not agree with me approving aid for Kelantan, Terengganu and so on,” he said.

Anwar said he bore a responsibility to help the poor.

“I promised to help them. If their problems have persisted for decades and they are affected by floods every year, I cannot rest easy as prime minister knowing that their states are devastated and their property and villages are destroyed.

“You chose a person called Anwar, and I make decisions to do the right thing. The right thing is to uphold justice for everyone, not simply hand out projects to certain people,” he said.