![Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at a press conference at the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya, Malaysia on December 2. Photo: AP/File](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="76" height="47"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
Malaysian former Prime Minister and Perikatan Nasional Chairman Muhyiddin Yassin gestures during a news conference after Malaysia’s 15th general election on November 20. Photo: Reuters/File
Scope for relationship to develop as more ties grow
MESSAGE I am grateful to have this opportunity to extend my greetings and best wishes to the people of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Norwegian community in Hong Kong on our National Day.
Norway has had a Consulate-General in Hong Kong for more than 90 years, since 1906, just one year after becoming independent. The May 17 celebration is to honour the day when our constitution was proclaimed during the short-lived attempt at independence in 1814.
Real independence only came in 1905, but the 1814 constitution, much inspired by the ideas of the French and American revolutions, became a rallying point for our independence movement in the 19th century.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at a press conference at the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya, Malaysia on December 2. Photo: AP/File
Malaysia PM Anwar tells Muhyiddin ‘don’t challenge me’, as he audits predecessor’s billion-ringgit projects
- PM Anwar, who is also finance minister, said ‘tens of billions of ringgit’ in Covid relief during Muhyiddin’s time as premier was allocated without due procedure
- Muhyiddin was prime minister from March 2020 to August 2021, and now leads the opposition
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at a press conference at the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya, Malaysia on December 2. Photo: AP/File
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he will review billions of ringgit worth of government projects that past administrations had approved, including flood mitigation plans and pandemic help packages.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said “tens of billions of ringgit” in Covid relief during Muhyiddin Yassin’s time as premier was allocated without due procedure. Muhyiddin was prime minister from March 2020 to August 2021, and now leads the opposition.
“I want to remind Muhyiddin, do not challenge me because it’s clear there were several processes and procedures that weren’t followed, and there were companies with vested interests or linked to families,” Anwar told reporters on Tuesday, after clocking into the Finance Ministry for the first time.
Malaysia had spent about 83 billion ringgit (US$19 billion) on pandemic-related aid, including 5 billion ringgit for vaccine purchases and 21 billion ringgit for wage subsidies, Muhyiddin said Monday. “Not a single sen entered my personal accounts,” the former premier said. The National Audit Department and the central bank would have flagged it otherwise, he said.
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