PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hit at an opposition leader for claiming the federal government treated the state cruelly over parliamentary allocations and 'wang ihsan' (compassionate payment) to Terengganu.
Although Anwar did not single out anyone, it is believed that he was referring to the remarks made by Terengganu Menteri Besar and Kemaman member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
Anwar said allocations for Terengganu from the unity government is higher than under other federal administrations, including those led by Perikatan Nasional which the Pas vice-president is a part of.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the federal government has approved RM786 million in compassionate payment based on revenue generated from the petroleum industry to Terengganu in 2023.
"Apart from the wang ihsan payment, the federal government has fulfilled its obligation of distributing RM413.64 million in federal grant to Terengganu in 2023.
"The amount is higher than the RM399 million in federal grant received by Terengganu the previous year.
"And in 2024, there will be more (increase in federal grant payment to Terengganu).. So how are we being cruel (to Terengganu)?" said Anwar in his speech during the Finance Ministry's monthly assembly here today.
The unity government, said Anwar, had never withheld any federal grant or wang ihsan to any of the states, including Terengganu.
"We never took the money and gave it away to other ministries, departments or other states.
"The fund (wang ihsan) is all for Terengganu, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
On the allocation for parliamentary constituency, Anwar said the allocation was channeled directly to the people instead of through members of parliament.
"We will focus on those in the hard core poverty category. And there is no favouritism in this.
"We will help them all irrespective of their race and religion, constituencies or (political) parties," he said.
Anwar also took a swipe at opposition leaders who continue to harp on the issue despite the explanation given by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
"When we were the opposition for many years, I did not receive any allocations including during the time when Umno-Pas-Bersatu was in power.
"At the time, it was not considered 'zalim'. Why now it is considered 'zalim'?
"Can a hukum (laws) and fatwa change according to politics and not according to Islam?"
During the Dewan Rakyat sitting on March 6, Samsuri asked Anwar to explain the payment of petroleum royalty to the state last year.
Samsuri claimed Terengganu has yet to receive almost RM1 billion for the federal government.