Kuala lumpur: The decision to increase the number of special forecast number draws to 22 times a year during the previous administration was a collective responsibility of the previous government, including ministers from PAS at the time, according to former Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Tengku Zafrul, who currently serves as the Senior Political Adviser to the Prime Minister, clarified that such special draws are not novel as they were first introduced in 1999. He highlighted that the ceiling limit of 22 draws per year was already in place during the Barisan Nasional administration, prior to his appointment as Finance Minister.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the then-government reverted to this existing ceiling of 22 draws annually, a decision that was communicated to Parliament through an official reply. Tengku Zafrul emphasized that under the current MADANI Government, the number of special draws has been significantly reduced to just eight times a year.

Tengku Zafrul addressed these points in response to allegations from certain parties who have attributed the decision to increase the number of special draws to him personally. He made it clear that the facts concerning the issue are well-documented and expressed his desire not to continue a polemic that might divert the government's attention from its national development goals.

He further stressed that the primary focus of the MADANI Government is to address the people's concerns and ensure that all policies are designed to genuinely benefit the populace. The resurgence of the special forecast number draws issue stems from claims and disputes regarding the rationale for increasing the draws during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After assuming office in December 2022, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a reduction in the number of special draws, bringing them back down from 22 times to eight times per year starting in 2023.