Anwar Ibrahim Calls on Ministry of Finance and KKDW to Resolve Funding and Contractor Payment Issue Amicably

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) to resolve ongoing issues regarding budget allocations and delayed contractor payments through direct discussion.

Speaking to reporters after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Bukit Indah in Ampang Jaya today, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, emphasized the need for a constructive and collaborative approach between both ministries to settle the matter.

“Let us discuss this amicably. I have asked both ministries to resolve this properly,” Anwar said briefly when asked to comment on the funding dispute.

The Prime Minister’s directive follows statements issued on Thursday by Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican, who clarified that the Ministry of Finance had not imposed any restrictions or freezes on KKDW’s budget allocations for rural road infrastructure. Johan explained that payment constraints experienced by contractors occurred because KKDW had almost fully utilized its current-year allocation ahead of schedule.

The public debate surfaced after Deputy Prime Minister and KKDW Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi raised concerns regarding severe operational challenges and cash-flow pressures faced by government contractors due to delayed progress payments.

-NMT