{
  "id": 17941033,
  "title": "Zahid denies trying to sabotage unity government with shelved projects remarks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/zahid-denies-trying-to-sabotage-unity-government-with-shelved",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T09:29:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/03/zahid-denies-trying-to-sabotage-unity-government-with-shelved-projects-remarks"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has firmly rejected allegations that he attempted to undermine the unity government through his statements regarding the suspension of several rural development projects in Sabah and Sarawak. During a press conference following an event in Jasin, Melaka, Zahid emphasized that the claims of delayed or canceled letters of acceptance for these projects were accurate. He expressed readiness to present documented proof of the official directive issued, countering the claims against him. \"I have no intention to do that (sabotage), but those are the facts,\" Zahid stated. The Deputy Prime Minister also confirmed that all letters of acceptance for the projects had been canceled as a result of an official directive. Zahid pointed out that the concerns over the shelving of these projects in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as infrastructural challenges in rural areas across the peninsula, have been raised by Jelutong MP RSN Rayer. Rayer alleged that Zahid's remarks painted the government as neglectful of infrastructural needs in these regions and suggested a possible conspiracy between Zahid and the opposition to overthrow the government. The finance minister, II Amir Hamzah Azizan, had previously clarified that no projects had been cancelled, as funds for the shelved projects had been set aside. Last week, while concluding the debate on the 2027 budget, Zahid had claimed that the projects were halted at the behest of the rural and regional development ministry's secretary-general, despite the provision of funds for them. However, Amir later denied these claims, stating that the ministry had merely been instructed to delay awarding new road contracts until outstanding bills were settled.",
  "summary": "The deputy prime minister says he is prepared to produce documentary evidence of the official directive to counter the allegations.",
  "key_points": [
    "Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid denies sabotage allegations.",
    "Canceled letters of acceptance for Sabah, Sarawak projects.",
    "Opposition MP Rayer claims government neglect of rural infrastructure."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Zahid's insistence on project cancellations despite conflicting ministerial denials highlights a growing internal friction regarding how the unity government manages regional development and administrative directives.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Zahid denies trying to sabotage govt, says he has documents on cancelled rural projects",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/zahid-denies-trying-to-sabotage-govt-says-he-has-documents-on",
        "published": "2026-11-03T09:27:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}