JOHOR BARU – Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has assured Parliament that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim does not draw any salary or allowances from the ministry despite holding the ministerial portfolio.
In clarifying the matter, Ahmad moved to confirm the pledge the Tambun MP made after taking office, whereby he promised to turn down salaries for both the prime ministerial and ministerial posts.
“I want to officially confirm that the prime minister does not receive a salary from the Finance Ministry,” Ahmad said during his Budget 2023 winding-up speech at the Dewan Rakyat today.
During his speech, Ahmad, who is Pontian MP, also touched on the Jana Wibawa scandal, which saw former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dragged to court over seven corruption charges.
So far, Ahmad said that the government estimates that over RM7 billion in public funds were used in the scandal.
He also pointed out that Jana Wibawa managed to procure 67 projects spanning various ministries.
“Regarding Jana Wibawa, we estimate RM7.1 billion (in public funds were used).
“They procured two projects with the Implementation Coordination Unit, two projects with the Prime Minister’s Department, and seven with the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry.
“We also identified one project with the Health Ministry, three with the Public Works Department, 42 under the Rural Development Ministry, eight with the Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry, one under the Federal Territories Department, and one with the Defence Ministry.
“This is a total of 67 projects,” Ahmad added. – The Vibes, March 13, 2023
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