Aid given directly to the people, not necessarily through MPs, says Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday said that the government was giving aid and assistance directly to those in need, including flood victims, not necessarily through MPs.

Citing the example of the RM50 million flood aid for Johor, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the aid was meant for flood victims, not the state.

"The RM50 million is meant for those in need. It may have not reached the MPs, but it will reach the grassroots," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

He was responding to Pagoh MP Muhyiddin Yassin’s call for the government to allocate at least RM300,000 to every elected representative, including those from the opposition, to enable them to channel immediate aid and assistance to flood victims in their areas.

Muhyiddin also called for the immediate flood aid of RM50 million to Johor to be increased to RM100 million.

Anwar said the government would spend the RM50 million first, which would be channelled directly to those affected by the floods without having to go through the various stages.

"There’s no commission, so the aid will go directly to the (flood) victims. 

"The flood mitigation projects have also been expedited. If we include that too, we have actually allocated almost RM1 billion for Johor," he said.

On the RM300,000 for every MP, however, Anwar said he was open to discussions with Muhyiddin.