Zahid rejects RM2.1b overspending claims, says ministry underspent revised allocation

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today dismissed claims that his ministry overspent by RM2.1 billion, saying the figure reflected the difference between its original allocation and revised spending ceiling over three years.

Winding up the 2027 Budget debate in the Dewan Rakyat, Zahid said the ministry spent RM6.108 billion between 2023 and 2025, against a revised allocation of RM6.143 billion after additional funding was approved, Free Malaysia Today reported.

“When we compare the amended allocations, the ministry has in fact underspent,” he was quoted as saying.

The explanation follows calls by DAP Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng last month for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate what he described as excess spending by the ministry.

The issue drew attention after Zahid voiced concern over delays in payments to contractors involved in ministry projects, saying some had been forced to cease operations because of cash flow problems despite completing their work.

Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican later attributed the delays to the ministry's spending commitments, noting that most of this year's allocation for rural road projects had already been utilised.

According to Johan, spending on rural road projects reached RM1.8 billion in 2023 against an approved allocation of RM1.1 billion, RM2 billion in 2024 compared with RM1.3 billion allocated, and RM2.3 billion in 2025 against RM1.6 billion approved.

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吉隆坡，10月26日讯——乡村及区域发展部长拿督斯里阿末扎希哈米迪今日驳斥了有关其部门超支21亿令吉的说法，称该数字反映了其最初拨款与三年内修订后的支出上限之间的差额。

据《今日自由马来西亚》报道，扎希德在下议院结束2027年预算辩论时表示，该部在2023年至2025年间支出61.08亿令吉，而经批准追加拨款后，修订后的拨款为61.43亿令吉。

“当我们比较修改后的拨款时，会发现该部实际上支出不足，”他说道。

此前，民主行动党峇眼国会议员林冠英上个月呼吁马来西亚反贪污委员会调查他所说的该部过度支出问题。

扎希德对拖欠部委项目承包商款项表示担忧，称一些承包商尽管完成了工作，却因现金流问题被迫停止运营，此事引起了人们的关注。

财政部秘书长约翰·马哈茂德·梅里坎后来将延误归咎于该部的支出承诺，并指出今年大部分农村道路项目拨款已经用完。

据 Johan 称，2023 年农村道路项目支出达到 18 亿令吉，而批准的拨款为 11 亿令吉；2024 年支出达到 20 亿令吉，而拨款为 13 亿令吉；2025 年支出达到 23 亿令吉，而批准的拨款为 16 亿令吉。

兰卡威免税店政策改革：车辆价格上限30万令吉，消费限额1万令吉。

一名空乘人员因酒后驾车撞死吉隆坡市政局（DBKL）道路施工人员而被控告，事故发生在苏丹伊斯干达大道（Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar）。

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