KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, August 5, 2025 – During a heated Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT) session in the Dewan Rakyat, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim dismissed accusations of federal government tyranny as unfounded, emphasizing higher allocations to states like Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis under his administration compared to previous opposition-led governance. He also spotlighted the restoration of funding to people’s religious schools (sekolah agama rakyat), which had been withdrawn in the past.
Anwar expressed bewilderment at the irony, noting that those who previously canceled such funding are now praised and admired, while his government—actively reinstating support without regard to political affiliations—is branded as oppressive. “The accusation that the Central Government is tyrannical is baseless,” Anwar stated. “Strangely, the one who canceled the allocation for the people’s religious schools is the one being praised and admired now, while this government that is giving back the allocation is accused of being tyrannical.”
Key highlights from Anwar’s remarks include:
– States under opposition control receiving elevated federal funding to bridge regional poverty gaps.
– Non-discriminatory aid to religious schools, prioritizing national unity over political support.
– A call to focus on facts amid what he described as misleading narratives.
The session tied into broader discussions on reducing inter-state poverty disparities, aligning with the MADANI government’s equitable development agenda. Anwar’s comments come amid ongoing debates on resource distribution and subsidy reforms.
For the full video and remarks, visit Anwar’s official X account or the Parliament portal.