FINANCE Minister Lim Guan Eng questioned whether the Barisan Nasional-controlled Pahang can afford to develop the state, and Cameron Highlands in particular, when its debts amount to RM3.2 billion.

He said Pahang’s debt to the federal government was the highest among all the states in the country. The state’s budget has also been in deficit since 2015, he added.

“Every year, the state menteri besar will proudly claim that the state was presenting a surplus budget. However the auditor-general’s reports will show otherwise.

“The continuous deficit budget shows an irresponsible financial management. In fact, the accumulated deficit as of December 2017 stands at RM228 million,” said Lim in a statement today.

He added that this mismanagement of the finances resulted in the state government being unable to settle its debt to the federal government.

“How can the state continue with its development projects with such high debt and negative budget figures?” he asked.

Pahang’s finances come into sharp focus as the state faces a by-election in Cameron Highlands on Saturday.

Lim had previously urged voters in Cameron Highlands to vote for the Pakatan Harapan candidate if they wanted development in the parliamentary constituency.

Cameron Highlands had always been a Barisan Nasional stronghold but the coalition’s win last general election was annulled by the election court in November after its winning candidate was found to have employed vote-buying and money politics in the run-up to the elections.

The by-election will see a four-cornered fight involving Pakatan Harapan’s M Manogaran, Barisan Nasional’s Ramli Mohd Nor, and two independent candidates. – January 22, 2019.