{
  "id": 5031264,
  "title": "MoF denies blocking rural road funds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/mof-denies-blocking-rural-road-funds",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T06:01:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1524160/mof-denies-blocking-rural-road-funds"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Finance Ministry (MoF) has denied allegations of restricting funds for rural road projects overseen by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW). Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican clarified that all approved funds have been fully allocated without any budget cuts or limitations. Mr. Merican explained that payment delays to contractors were due to KKDW exceeding its approved budget for rural road projects for several consecutive years. Every ministry is accountable for its own budget planning and management based on the annual budget approved by parliament. KKDW has not experienced any restrictions on its rural road budget allocation; all funds have been disbursed as approved. To address cash flow issues and clear payment arrears to contractors, MoF is collaborating with KKDW to re-prioritize its existing budget. An additional RM300 million allocation has been approved for 2026 to assist in settling outstanding payments. MoF is also exploring cost-saving measures from other ministries to cover KKDW's financial commitments that exceed approved limits. According to MoF data, KKDW has consistently exceeded its annual rural road budget budgets over the past four years, spending RM1.8 billion in 2024 against a RM1.3 billion budget. As of June 2026, KKDW has already spent RM1.9 billion of its RM2.1 billion approved allocation for 2026.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The finance ministry (MoF) has refuted claims of budget cuts or restrictions on the rural and regional development ministry’s (KKDW) allocation for rural road projects, clarifying that all approved funds have been fully channelled.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "KKDW’s rural road overspending triggers RM300m MOF bailout",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/kkdws-rural-road-overspending-triggers-rm300m-mof-bailout",
        "published": "2026-09-02T04:28:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}