‘Kelantan could pay only 1pc of its debt’

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kelantan government could repay only RM3.94 million, or one per cent of the RM395.83 million debt it had to pay to the Federal Government in 2016.

In revealing this, DAP Bukit Mertajam member of parliament Steven Sim claimed that the balance of the debt owed by the state government stood at almost RM1.4 billion up to 2016.

Sim, who is the deputy youth and sports minister, said the debt was proof of the weakness of the state government in managing its finances.

“In terms of financial performance, the Kelantan government recorded losses every year from 2012 to 2016. The total deficit during the period was RM1.1 billion.

“In the same period, the state government’s public debt increased every year. The balance of the state government’s public debt in 2016 was RM1.4 billion.

“Let the people evaluate for themselves whether such a financial performance is a reflection of good governance.

“I hope Pas leaders will no longer reject reality and stop distorting facts, while putting the blame on others. Be brave to confront reality and their weaknesses, as well as adopt change towards embracing efficiency, responsibility and transparency for the sake of the people of Kelantan,” he said in a statement.

DAP is locked in a feud with Pas after Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, said the Kelantan government was unable to pay the salaries of its civil servants.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak voiced his support for the state government and questioned the need to criticise and expose the state government’s letter.

He said Kelantan was the poorest state in the country because Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had cancelled development projects in the state when he took over the government as the fourth prime minister after Pas won over the state in 1990.