BERSATU deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has questioned if the country will get a finance minister from DAP again should Pakatan Harapan win the 15th general election (GE15).
His question came in light of his fellow party member Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali’s allegation that allocations for Malay/Bumiputera interests were cut by then finance minister Lim Guan Eng during PH’s 22-month stint in Putrajaya without explanation.
“Why are PH and its chairperson Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim silent on matters pertaining to the economic interests of the Bumiputera? Where is the transparency often spoken about by PH?” he asked in a statement.
On Saturday (Oct 29) Azmin, who was the economic affairs minister during the PH rule, claimed that cutbacks as well as a refusal to release allocations meant for Malay economic empowerment were among the decisions by the finance ministry under the PH government that had led to the start of a major rift.
He also alleged that some RM400 mil allocated for the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (Teraju), the unit under the Prime Minister’s Department set up to empower the Bumiputera economy, was also blocked by Lim.
Azmin was quoted by NST as saying the same happened to Felda and Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas).
“Anwar must not keep quiet on this subject”
Calling Azmin’s claims “extremely shocking and worrying”, Faizal put forward four questions for Opposition leader Anwar, who is also the prime ministerial candidate for PH.
“If appointed prime minister, will Anwar guarantee that the economic rights of the Malays and Bumiputera are taken care of, given that DAP is the dominant party in [the coalition]?” he asked.
“Has Anwar ever voiced protests in the Harapan presidential council against actions that prejudiced the Bumiputera’s economic standing, by DAP’s finance minister, as mentioned above?” he asked.
Faizal also questioned if a leader from DAP will again be appointed finance minister should PH win GE15.
He also went on to ask for Lim’s and PH’s justification for allegedly blocking allocations for the Malays and Bumiputera, as claimed by Azmin.
“Up until now no one from Harapan – not Guan Eng nor Anwar – has responded to Azmin’s revelation. The rakyat deserves to know. Anwar and PH should not keep mum on the matter,” Faizal stressed. – Nov 1, 2022
Main photo credit: Utusan Malaysia
