PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has ruled out contacting his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong to seek flexibility for Malaysians living and working in the republic to return home to vote in the Johor state election this Saturday.
Anwar said the decision was based on Putrajaya’s position that foreign governments should not interfere in Malaysia’s electoral affairs.
He added that the matter had already been communicated to companies and employers in Singapore that hire Malaysian workers, with the government encouraging them to provide flexibility for employees to return and cast their votes.
“Relations between Malaysia and Singapore are very good and this helps develop both countries, but I also know that I represent Malaysia.
“Usually, we do not ask any other country to interfere in matters including elections in Malaysia. We have only informed companies and businesses to facilitate Malaysian workers returning to vote,” he said during the Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
Anwar was responding to a supplementary question from Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) on whether he was prepared to contact Wong regarding voting arrangements for Malaysians in Singapore.
Separately, the government has maintained that there is no issue regarding a RM1.43 billion reimbursement claim by the Terengganu state government for the construction cost of the East Coast Expressway Phase 2 (LPT2).
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said part of the LPT2 construction cost was funded through the Federal Government’s Special Trust Fund Account (DKKP), based on a mutual agreement between the Federal and Terengganu governments.
The ministry said the use of the fund was also consistent with the DKKP Trust Account Directive, which stipulates that allocations may only be used to finance programmes, projects and activities that benefit residents of the respective state as approved by the Trust Account Committee.
“The Trust Account Directive does not contain any provision for reimbursement to any state government if a project is implemented by the Federal Government or federal agencies using allocations from the DKKP Trust Account.
“Therefore, the issue of a reimbursement claim amounting to RM1.43 billion for the LPT2 construction cost by the Terengganu state government does not arise,” the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply.
The response was issued to a question by Shaharizukirnain Abdul Kadir (PN-Setiu), who asked the Finance Minister to explain the mechanism for resolving Terengganu’s claim following several rounds of official negotiations between the state and federal governments.
MOF said funding for part of the LPT2 project was aligned with the government’s commitment to ensure that DKKP allocations related to Terengganu were used for the benefit of the state and its people.
However, the ministry said the government remained open to discussions with the Terengganu government on proposals for new programmes or projects that could be funded through the DKKP Trust Account.
“These efforts are aimed at directly benefiting the people, particularly in reducing poverty rates and improving basic infrastructure in Terengganu,” it said. - July 7, 2026
