PM says Madani govt provides needed funds to opposition-led states
BACHOK: The Madani government has never reduced funding for opposition-led states, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In fact, he said the allocation to PAS-led Kelantan increased by 30% to RM762mil last year compared to RM588mil in 2023, and the allocation to Terengganu also recorded a 28% increase to RM2.02bil last year from RM1.57bil the previous year.
“This increase includes grants under Marris (Malaysian Road Records Information System), Tahap (Economic, Infrastructure and Welfare Development-Based Grants), per capita grants, compassionate money and other allocations under the concurrent list.
“This allocation is the main source of state revenue, especially for Kelantan and Terengganu, which only generate around RM500mil and RM250mil from their state resources, respectively,” he said at the state level Aidilfitri Madani 2025 event at Pantai Irama, here yesterday.
The Prime Minister said the Federal Government has also approved an allocation for the poverty eradication programme, amounting to RM25mil for Kelantan and RM60mil for Terengganu for this year.
For Kelantan, the Federal Government has also decided to expedite flood mitigation projects to address the state’s perennial flooding problem, which disrupts the lives of its people.
“Kelantan has identified several key projects, and this year, despite their high cost, I have decided to expedite the phased flood mitigation projects.”
“We don’t want to continue witnessing yearly floods, with the flood situation remaining unmanageable while governments come and go, including the Federal Government.
“That is why I have asked Petra (the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry) as well as the Economy and Finance Ministries to look into several new approaches.
“In this state, sometimes the water overflows, causing floods, and then in the following months, it’s completely dry.
“Allah has given us strength, effort and technology – can’t the overflowing floodwater be stored for the dry season? Of course it can,” he said in his speech.