Source : Prime Minister's Office
KUALA LUMPUR, October 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that development projects across Malaysia are decided on the basis of national priorities, the needs of local communities and the government’s financial capacity, rejecting claims that constituencies held by the opposition are being sidelined.
In a video post shared on his X account on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Anwar wrote: “Development projects are determined based on national priorities, the needs of the local people and the government’s financial capacity, taking into account input from the relevant parties.”
“Every project must bring benefits to the people and ensure that government allocations are used effectively,” he added.
The post followed his replies during Ministers’ Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat earlier the same day, where he answered an original question from Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) on the formula and criteria the government uses to decide constituency development fund (CDF) allocations.
According to Bernama, Anwar told the House that national development priorities are set through engagement with ministries, departments, state governments and district offices, while also weighing the government’s financial capacity and the interests of local residents. “This is our policy in determining projects, meaning development priorities within the framework of the national budget and development agenda,” he said.
In a supplementary question, Che Mohamad Zulkifly asked whether the government planned to enact a law guaranteeing equal development allocations for all Members of Parliament regardless of party, in line with a pledge in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the government consistently ensured that every parliamentary constituency was considered for development, whichever party its MP represented.
“To assume that no allocations have been approved is something I disagree with, because allocations for the people are being provided,” he said, as reported by Bernama. He added that the MADANI Government used the same approach nationwide, including for repairing dilapidated schools, religious schools, minor roads and mosques.
The Prime Minister said the real issue raised was the mechanism of channelling funds directly to MPs, rather than any absence of development projects in their areas. According to Kosmo, he explained that allocations are not handed directly to MPs, even in constituencies held by government parties. “Projects do not necessarily have to be channelled through MPs. Even in constituencies represented by government parties, allocations are not given directly to MPs, as their role is only to verify the projects,” he said.
Instead, he said, projects are decided through discussions with the state governments and ministries concerned. Anwar noted that earlier direct allocations to opposition MPs had been implemented under the confidence and supply agreement (CSA) between the government and the opposition.
Taking Besut as an example, Anwar said 197 projects and minor projects had been approved for the constituency, covering infrastructure, healthcare, housing, agriculture, education and flood mitigation. These include the rehabilitation of Sungai Besut, the construction of the Jertih integrated bus and taxi terminal, a security project at the Gong Kedak Air Base and a new health clinic in the district, Bernama reported.
He also pointed to federal allocations for opposition-led Terengganu, which he said had risen substantially compared with 2022, as evidence that no state or parliamentary seat was being left behind. “I stress once again that we are not sidelining any parliamentary constituency or state,” he said.
Anwar said the government remains open to considering additional development needs, based on the interests of local communities, the priority of each project and the government’s current financial capacity.
Source: https://x.com/anwaribrahim/status/2114997580237300171
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