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KUALA TERENGGANU – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tonight announced an additional allocation of RM50 million for the Terengganu government to assist those affected by last December’s floods.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the amount was in addition to the immediate allocation of RM50 million announced in December last year.
“The initial allocation has been approved, but considering the current situation, I have no problem approving the allocation to Terengganu.
“We are announcing an additional RM50 million to help flood victims,” he said when speaking at the Malaysia Madani open house at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin here tonight.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, as well as Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
During his visit to flood-hit areas in Kelantan on December 21, Anwar announced an immediate flood allocation of RM50 million to Kelantan and Terengganu respectively to ease the burden of the two states.
The prime minister said he had received information that the initial allocation for flood victims in Terengganu had been delayed and subsequently asked the treasury secretary-general to check on the matter.
In the meantime, Anwar said the unity government was open to and agreed with Samsuri’s suggestion that the state and federal governments maintain good relations.
“That is why I take an open attitude that the relationship between the state and federal governments must be good always and their (state government) concerns and views are taken into account,” he said.
Earlier, Samsuri expressed hope in his speech that the relationship between the state and federal government would be improved, in turn allowing more non-partisan and bipartisan initiatives to be introduced as in developed countries for the good of the people.
He said strains in ties between the state and federal governments can lead to uneasiness among the people who want solutions to dire issues faced.
The menteri besar said he hoped that all plans, development, and special distribution of allocations received each year by the state government will continue according to schedule as contained in Budget 2023 presented in the Dewan Rakyat in February. – Bernama, May 13, 2023
