Previous govts saddled us with RM20bil TH, Felda debts says Anwar

Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim at his final Negeri Sembilan campaign event last night, in support of G Manivannan, the PH candidate in Jeram Padang. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim closed out campaigning for the Negeri Sembilan state election with a wide-ranging speech that squarely blamed previous governments for the financial troubles plaguing Tabung Haji and Felda, while pushing back at critics who accuse his unity government of neglecting Malay interests.Anwar, who is prime minister, said his government inherited a pilgrim fund saddled with RM10 billion in debt, on top of Felda’s own RM10 billion debt load that requires the government to service close to RM1 billion a year.“This isn’t about picking a fight, but this is a fact - everyone in the industry knows it,” he said, stressing that the losses were not caused by Felda settlers or plantation staff, whom he described as hardworking and well managed.Anwar used the speech to reject accusations that he has sidelined Malay interests in favour of other communities, citing the government’s designation of 50 acres of prime urban land as Malay reserve land - the first such move since independence - as well as a RM1 billion allocation to Jakim.Anwar said ministers in his Cabinet from various parties - including those from Umno, PKR, Amanah, DAP as well as representatives from Sabah and Sarawak - had never blocked efforts to safeguard the rights and welfare of Muslims and Malays.“I have never heard, in the more than three-and-a-half years that I have been prime minister, of any objections in the Cabinet to introducing programmes related to Islam or Malays,” he said.He also defended targeted aid for poorer Chinese and Indian communities - including RM50 million carved out for Indians under Mitra and Tekun, and RM30 million-plus in ASNB/Amanah Ikhtiar funding extended to poor Indians and Chinese - as consistent with, not contrary to, looking after the Malay community.On the cost of living, Anwar said the RON95 petrol petrol price of RM1.99 per litre remains among the cheapest in the world at a subsidy cost to the government of RM40 billion to RM45 billion a year, on top of RM16 billion for the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah cash aid programme.He also highlighted a civil service pay restructuring that gave larger percentage increases to lower-ranked staff than to senior officials…