{
  "id": 17943267,
  "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-17943267",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T09:29:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "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 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dismissed accusations that he aimed to undermine the unity government through his remarks concerning the suspension of rural development projects in Sabah and Sarawak. As the Rural and Regional Development Minister, Zahid declared that his statements regarding the postponement or cancellation of Letters of Acceptance (SST) for these projects were factual. He asserted his willingness to provide documentary evidence of the official directive that prompted the cancellation of the SSTs. Zahid emphasized that there was no intention behind his actions and highlighted that all pending and future SSTs had been ordered to be cancelled. He reiterated that he possesses evidence of the directive letter, which he could present to Jelutong MP RSN Rayer during a press conference following an event at Dewan MPJ Alamanda in Jasin, Melaka. Rayer had previously criticized Zahid for allegedly attempting to undermine the unity government by downplaying the infrastructural challenges faced by Sabah, Sarawak, and rural communities. He also contended that the funds allocated for the shelved projects were being misused, despite Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan clarifying that no projects had been cancelled. Rayer further alleged that Zahid was collaborating with the opposition to overthrow the government. Last week, while concluding the deliberations on the 2027 budget, Zahid claimed that projects in Sabah and Sarawak were halted at the orders of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry's Secretary-General, despite funds having been designated for the projects. Amir subsequently refuted the claim that the Finance Ministry had cancelled any projects, stating that the Rural and Regional Development Ministry was merely 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": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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."
}