SIMPANG RENGGAM: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tonight questioned criticisms by Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor despite the federal government’s efforts to develop the state.
Anwar said he had only recently met with his Thai counterpart, Anutin Charnvirakul, to open a new road linking the Bukit Kayu Hitam border checkpoint to the Thai checkpoint in Sadao.
The new road will spur development in Perlis, Kedah and southern Thailand, said Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, at a Johor election campaign event here.
“I met the Thai prime minister this morning to help develop Kedah, only to read news reports that Sanusi was lambasting me in Johor. Does he know I was helping Kedah?” he said at a ceramah on the eve of the Johor polls.
Anwar said the federal government does not treat states differently as development must benefit everyone, irrespective of their political leanings.
“Kedah is a PAS-led state, but it is also my responsibility. I want to help the rakyat. I want to develop Malaysia.”
Yesterday, Sanusi accused Putrajaya of giving preferential treatment by allocating RM16 billion for the Mutiara Line LRT project in Penang, adding that the federal funding showed that states not aligned with Putrajaya were being treated unfairly.
Anwar also commented on a PAS offer to help Barisan Nasional form the state government if BN failed to secure a simple majority at the Johor election.
He said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s pledge highlighted the Islamic party’s willingness to set aside their differences to take on PH.
“Where are PAS’s principles?” he said.
Hadi had yesterday said PAS is prepared to help BN “make up the numbers” if the latter needed a two-thirds majority to ensure Malay-Muslim political power is preserved.
