Spending RM600+ million in 11 Weeks

March 30, 2012

Spending RM600+ million in 11 Weeks

by S Pathmawathy @www.malaysiakini.com

The government disbursed RM608.68 million over 11 weeks to Malaysia through Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's and his Deputy Muhyiddin Yassin's official nationwide visits. According to a parliamentary written reply, the "urgent allocation" approved from January to March 15, 2012 was handed out during their 14-state visit, with Perak recording the highest at RM220.38 million for 34 projects.

Jerai PAS MP Mohd Firdaus Jaafar on Tuesday had asked the Prime Minister's Department to list to all the allocations approved for the Prime Minister's official tour of the states. Allocations for Johor ranked second, with RM201.40 million doled out for 24 projects, while the Federal Territories came in third with RM63.25 million dispensed for nine projects.

Najib's recent marathon forays to Perak and Selangor focussed on opposition-held areas, distributing goodies and promises to boost BN's popularity, had fueled speculation that polls might be announced soon.

BN suffered its worst electoral defeat in 2008 under former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, when the Opposition won 82 parliamentary seats and gained control of Kelantan, Kedah and Penang, as well as Perak and Selangor.

The ruling coalition, however, wrested away Perak in February 2009 – after three Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons defected, mere days after Najib took over as state UMNO chief, plunging the state into political chaos which lasted several months.

Political pundits opined that the 13th general election will pose a critical challenge to the first-term premier to reverse inroads made by the Opposition in Parliament and to win much needed votes in Perak and Selangor, a fate analysts believe still hangs by a thread.