At PKR congress, PM hints at more fund recovery efforts

At PKR congress, PM hints at more fund recovery efforts


Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has hinted at possible reviews of more government contracts as part of attempts to recover public funds channelled to mismanaged projects.

Speaking as PKR president at the party’s special congress today, Anwar cited the Jana Wibawa programme - which had ultimately snared several Bersatu leaders including president Muhyiddin Yassin in multiple corruption charges - as one which had initially benefited the people.

“There are projects to assist the bumiputera, [...] like the Jana Wibawa programme. The contractors must be bumiputera, but there are also Chinese.

“And then we look at other contracts, even just now there are whispers. Anthony Loke mentioned a project under the Transport Ministry,” said Anwar (above), referring to the transport minister who attended the congress as DAP's secretary-general.

In his policy speech to over 1,000 party delegates, Anwar added there could be other contracts up for review under the Home Ministry now helmed by PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as home minister.

“We must focus on correcting these mistakes. It is not my intention to dig up (mistakes) but I want to recover funds,” he said, citing as examples the flood mitigation contracts in Johor and Kelantan which saw additional funds allocated after a review.

In his speech, Anwar also defended the government’s engagement with tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, who has been linked to the Jana Wibawa scandal.

Unlike political donations to Bersatu, Anwar said the government had instead pursued initiatives that benefited the people, including reaching an agreement with Syed Mokhtar to give 30 percent of Bernas’ profit to paddy farmers.

“These (initiatives) are our choices but what did they (opponents) choose to do? RM200 million entered into the party’s account and I don’t know what else.

“(Actually) I do but I just haven’t publicised it yet,” said Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairperson.

The one-day PKR Special Congress held at Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam, gathered party leaders and members ahead of the upcoming state polls due in June.

Themed “Malaysia Madani: Implementation of Idealism”, the congress was also held in lieu of PKR's annual congress, which has been postponed to a later date.