PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has moved to draw a clear line between genuine support letters and formal requests for approval, after revealing in Parliament that the Kelantan and Terengganu state executive councils had sent letters explicitly seeking clearance for proposed projects.
Addressing the Dewan Rakyat during Prime Minister’s Question Time on Tuesday, Anwar underscored that these letters bore no resemblance to the document recently linked to his former senior aide, which he insisted had merely requested consideration rather than approval.
He disclosed that the Terengganu letter in question had been signed by the state’s Chairman of Infrastructure, Utilities and Rural Development, following sustained questioning from Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN–Hulu Terengganu).
“I have stated that I do not agree with the issuing of support letters. But we must distinguish between such letters, as shown recently, including the case involving my former senior private secretary,” he said.
“In this particular letter, a list of six companies was asked to be considered. A reprimand is warranted because the letter says ‘please consider’, not a recommendation to approve.”
He added that it was common for him to receive such submissions during state visits. “When letters are handed to me, I write ‘please review’. But it would be wrong to support or request approval for a company,” he said.
Anwar also delivered a pointed rebuke to the opposition, accusing its members of defending “major corrupt figures” and attempting to cast them as martyrs.
“When there is an investigation into the former Finance Minister for Arau (Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim), they rush to defend him. My officer is under investigation—why punish him now? I only advise that Parliament be used wisely, and that no protection be given to any corrupt individual,” he said.
In a separate development, the Prime Minister announced RM500 million in immediate federal funding to repair flood-damaged public infrastructure, including schools, clinics, essential utilities and roads.
He said all federal and state departments had been ordered to conduct swift assessments and accelerate repair works.
“To speed things up, I have approved RM500 million for repairs caused by the floods,” he said while tabling the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026 for second reading in the Dewan Negara. The Bill had been passed in the Dewan Rakyat the day before.
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, said the National Disaster Management Agency had strengthened its preparedness and was coordinating actions with state governments and local authorities.
Meanwhile, Anwar defended the Kota MADANI development in Putrajaya, pushing back against opposition claims that the project was extravagant and that funds could instead be diverted to build more schools.
He stressed that the project is financed by Perbadanan Putrajaya, not the federal treasury.
“Kota MADANI is built by Perbadanan Putrajaya, not using government funds,” he said. “Why be angry with civil servants? Kota MADANI is for 10,000 homes for public officers around Putrajaya, because currently we cannot meet housing demand. It is not a mega city. This is not the Twin Towers.”
Anwar said the township’s design ensures state-of-the-art smart-city features, artificial intelligence integration and modern mobility systems.
It will include TVET institutions, schools, clinics, a fire station, police station, mosque, financial institutions and architecture rooted in local cultural heritage. Construction of the first phase is expected to begin in September and conclude by end-2027.
Responding to Rosol’s criticism over the Kota MADANI project and the planned LRT Mutiara Line in Penang, Anwar questioned why the same level of scrutiny was not applied to the multi-billion-ringgit East Coast Rail Link project.
“Why not mention that the ECRL, costing RM40–50 billion, benefits the entire country, including Kelantan and Terengganu?” he asked. “We did not object because it was an ongoing project. The difference now is that this government has reduced costs and ensured sub-contracts go to local companies.”
He added that Penang had not received a major development project in five years, noting that LRT financing involves both development expenditure and bond mechanisms.
Anwar ended by urging MPs to anchor their arguments in fact rather than political distortion, calling for a more responsible parliamentary discourse. - December 2, 2025
