It is not a split, it is ‘policy deliberation’: Anwar cools talk of ministry feud over budgets

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim downplayed recent tensions between ministries, stating that differing views do not signify a split within the government. In a response to Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin's query about a visible contradiction between the Finance and Rural and Regional Development Ministries, Anwar clarified that such disagreements are part of the government's policy deliberation process.

He emphasized that these differences are taken into account when determining the government's official stance, ensuring that the MADANI government's agenda can be effectively implemented. Anwar stressed that all decisions are made with the people's interests, national development goals, and the government's financial capacity in mind.

Matters requiring collective approval are brought before the Cabinet, which upholds the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility. The Prime Minister also highlighted the government's continuous monitoring of economic performance through current data and indicators to strengthen the economy against global uncertainties. The Budget 2027 debate saw concerns over the Rural and Regional Development Ministry's spending, led by Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi, who denied allegations of overspending by RM2.1 billion.

The issue gained attention due to Zahid's concerns over delayed payments to contractors, which he claimed had forced some projects to halt operations due to cash flow problems. The Treasury secretary-general later attributed these delays to the ministry's spending commitments, noting that most of the current year's allocation for rural road projects had already been utilized.