TG KARANG – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he would release proof today that he had signed a debt waiver scheme for Felda settlers.
“I can show them, there is no need to wait 24 hours, I can do it in 12 hours. I did sign it on June 27. As to why he (former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) did not do the work, I do not know.
“You (Muhyiddin) challenge me in this manner... fair enough, I will provide proof that I signed (the RM990 million debt waiver), and he must apologise,” he told reporters after attending the Tg Karang Unity Maal Hijrah 1445H celebration in Kg Raja Musa here last night.
Anwar was responding to Muhyiddin’s demand for an open and unconditional written apology from him (Anwar), following Anwar’s claim that the Felda settlers’ debts totalling RM8.3 billion had never been waived under Muhyiddin’s administration.
The letter of demand dated July 18 was issued through solicitors, Messrs Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership.
Muhyiddin also wants Anwar, within 24 hours after receiving the letter, to furnish signed documentation that he (Anwar), as the finance minister, had, at the end of June, signed a debt waiver scheme for Felda settlers worth RM8.3 billion.
In response, Anwar said that before departing for his official visit to Vietnam today, he will request that Treasury Secretary-General Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican provide him with the necessary proof.
“Insya-Allah, before I leave for Vietnam, I will call the treasury secretary-general and ask him to provide the proof. I want him (Muhyiddin) to openly apologise,” he said.
Prior to this, Anwar claimed that under the Perikatan Nasional government’s 2021 and 2022 national budgets, there had been no allocations to resolve and dispose of Felda’s debts.
He said it was only in the Madani Budget 2023 that he had set aside RM990 million as an early allocation to dispose of the Felda settlers’ debts of RM8.3 billion. – Bernama, July 20, 2023
