TERENGGANU’s own “little 1MDBs” have largely escaped notice as all eyes are fixed upon the massive 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, opposition lawmakers said.

While Terengganu’s unexplained state budget deficits of the last 10 years and series of abandoned or defective projects might not match 1MDB in terms of money lost, they match the scandal in terms of power abuse and theft of public funds, they said.

Bandar assemblyman Azan Ismail and Kuala Terengganu MP Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad made these allegations at the Pakatan Harapan ceramah, Save Malaysia, in Besut, last night.

Azan said last year, the Terengganu government spent RM2 billion but collected RM1 billion in revenue.

Azan questioned the discrepancy, saying it was inexplicable that the state should spend RM2 billion for a population of only 1.2 million.

Yet despite all the money spent, the average fisherfolk family made only RM400 to RM460 a month, said Azan, who is also Terenggganu PKR chief.

“There is a very, vey big possibility that half of the money spent is wasted through mismanagement, is misappropriated, or very, very likely stolen,” said Azan.

“Because the state government does not explain (its spending) there is a lot of suspicion over how they actually spend our money.”

In his slide presentation, Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah highlighted three of the Barisan Nasional state government’s failed projects that had collectively cost taxpayers more RM900 million in losses.

The first is the stadium in Gong Badak, which cost about RM300 million but which cannot be used as the roof has collapsed, he said.

“Then there is the duty-free area in Kenyir, which cost RM300 million but which has also failed,” said Raja Kamaru.

The latest abandoned project is the RM300 million college hub in Taman Ilmu in Besut, which is unoccupied because of defects.

A RM45 million contract to fix the project was split between 17 sub-contractors, all with a problematic record, he said.

“Some of these companies are from out of Terengganu; so the question is, why are we giving the job to outsiders? Even worse, some of the companies are RM2 shell companies.” – August 26, 2017.