PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today denied ex-premier Muhyiddin Yassin that he lied about the disposal of Felda settlers’ debts. 

Anwar said as the finance minister, he had just signed the approval of the disposal of debts at the end of last month. 

“Today, the former prime minister (Muhyiddin) issued a statement that I was lying, that this matter has been completed in 2021.  

“How can you say you have completed it, (when) I just signed it at the end of June. So, when you said it was completed, which part did you complete?” he asked during the “Temu Anwar” programme at Universiti Utara Malaysia today. 

Anwar said the previous government had indeed agreed to dispose of the debts but did not follow through.

“Budget 2021 and Budget 2022 tabled by Perikatan Nasional had no provision to settle and dispose of Felda settlers’ debts. I stand by this record. 

“Only in Budget Madani 2023 did I start to set aside over RM990 million as an early allocation to dispose of Felda settlers’ debts amounting to RM8.3 billion,” he said. 

Anwar reminded the people that they could not rely on past leaders who were involved in corruption to solve the country’s problems. 

He also called on young people to avoid being deceived by certain parties who used religious and Malay issues to gain support. 

“That’s why I said that youth need to think. The solution is in youth themselves; they should set a new political standard. 

“Don’t use the old political yardstick and fool the people with all the wrong facts; there is always room to check and ask questions,” he said. – Bernama, July 8, 2023.