Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today assured the Orang Asli community that government allocations for them would not be withdrawn should Pakatan Harapan (PH) be given another mandate to govern Negeri Sembilan after the upcoming state election. He gave the assurance in response to claims being circulated that allocations for the Orang Asli community would be withdrawn if certain candidates failed to win the election.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, stated that any approval or withdrawal of government allocations is determined in accordance with the law and the Federal Constitution, and not based on election results or political interests. Anwar emphasized, "Some people have been telling the Orang Asli that if this person does not win, the allocations will be withdrawn. I am the one who approves those allocations."
These allocations are provided in accordance with the law and the Federal Constitution. The Finance Minister approves them. Anwar assured that as long as everything is done properly, he will continue to provide them, indicating there is no problem. He made these remarks at an afternoon tea session with PMX at the Chennah state constituency in Simpang Durian.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who is also the PH candidate for the Chennah state seat in the upcoming polls, was present at the event. Loke expressed hope that the Prime Minister's assurance would give the Orang Asli community the confidence to make their choice without being influenced by threats or misleading information.
Loke mentioned that there had been claims of certain parties spreading propaganda throughout the campaign period to create concern among Orang Asli voters over government allocations. He stressed the importance of contesting the election based on facts and truth, without any elements of intimidation or fearmongering. Loke has consistently conveyed this message throughout his two-week campaign to the Orang Asli community, emphasizing that no one should threaten any party or voter.