SHAH ALAM (March 18): The unity government's success in managing the flood mitigation projects, which were previously allocated a total of RM15 billion, has allowed additional similar projects to be implemented using the same amount of funding, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said that with the same size of funding, only eight or nine flood mitigation projects could be implemented previously.

“It is not that I am being malicious, or that l want to attack others. I want to save the money, so that it can be returned to the people. That's my job [as the PM]. Look at the flood mitigation [projects]. I mentioned in Parliament that the allocation was RM15 billion, and if you follow the previous projects, the funding could only finance eight or nine projects.

“When we redo it by applying selective tendering, and doing the work in a more organised manner, we can add two or three more projects. From one flood mitigation project in Johor, I add one more using the same [amount of] funds, but managed efficiently and transparently,” he said when delivering a policy speech at the PKR Special National Congress 2023 on Saturday (March 18).

The congress, which was held at the Malawati Stadium and themed "Malaysia Madani, Pelaksanaan Sebuah Idealisme”, was also attended by the party’s deputy president Mohd Rafizi Ramli, secretary general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, DAP secretary general Anthony Loke, Amanah vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) honorary president Datuk Seri Dr Wilfred Madius Tangau, and 41 foreign embassy representatives.

In the meantime, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the government will continue to safeguard the fate of the people, and will not allow rich individuals and companies to avoid paying taxes.

Earlier, Anwar and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were seen in tears when an excerpt from the film Anwar Ibrahim: Untold Story was shown at the congress before he delivered his policy speech.

The movie, which is expected to be shown in cinemas in May, chronicles the ups and downs of Anwar's political journey from 1991, until the formation of the reform movement, after he was sacked as the deputy prime minister in 1998.

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