PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has sought to clarify a letter that went viral on social media claiming that an allocation of RM35 million had been approved to build a hall in his Pagoh parliamentary constituency.
The letter, dated Jan 11 and addressed to the director-general of the Public Works Department (JKR), was from the Implementation Coordination Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department.
The letter stated it was the prime minister’s wish that the project be implemented as soon as possible and JKR had been directed to start work on the site by March 1.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said the development allocation worth RM35.43 million was not approved for only one hall as circulated but for the construction of three public halls, namely Gersik hall in Tangkak with the cost of RM13 million, Bukit Pasir community hall in Muar worth RM16.66 million and Bukit Kepong community centre in Muar worth RM5.77 million.
“The construction of these three halls is to meet the needs of the local communities,” it said.
It added that the procurement for these construction projects were not through direct negotiations but in accordance with the procurement procedures provided and approved by the finance ministry.
Earlier, Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasir urged Muhyiddin to clarify the authenticity of the letter.
“If this letter is fake, it would be good to deny it immediately,” Akmal said in a Facebook post.
He also questioned the huge sum to build a hall at a time when the Covid-19 crisis was worsening.
“Please enlighten us,” said Akmal, adding that the funds should have been prioritised for frontliners or utilised to help lighten the burden faced by people during the emergency.