Clarify with data, say analysts on treasury allocation dispute

Analysts argue that disagreements with the Treasury over financial allocations should be addressed with data, rather than mere assertions. Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting pointed out that while press secretaries can handle communications, professional officials from the ministry are better equipped to explain financial discrepancies. He questioned why the press secretary was the primary source of information, when the ministry's experts could provide a more comprehensive explanation.

Mazlan Che Soh of Universiti Teknologi Mara noted that government finances are complex, involving factors such as supplementary allocations, virements, contractual commitments, liabilities, and forward commitments. He emphasized that the Treasury's explanation should be viewed as an administrative response and not as a political attack. If there are disparities between the ministry's figures and the Treasury's, they should be resolved through data presentation rather than through perception.

The dispute began when Rural and Regional Development Minister Zahid Hamidi claimed that payments to contractors for rural development projects were delayed, leading to some contractors shutting down due to cash flow issues. Treasury Secretary-General Johan Mahmood Merican countered that the delays were due to most of the year's allocation for rural road projects already being spent, and that Zahid's ministry had consistently overspent its approved annual allocation for rural road projects since 2023.

Zahid's press secretary, Fadzmel Fadzil, however, maintained that the ministry could not spend beyond its allocated funds.

Analysts believe that Zahid's reaction to the criticism from his press secretary could be seen as defensive, reflecting growing scrutiny of his performance as a minister ahead of the upcoming general election. This dispute could potentially impact how voters perceive his leadership abilities, as managing the ministry effectively would be a key factor in assessing his capabilities.