Politics · Malaysia Bureau
PM's office urges Deputy PM to verify facts on defence spending
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's senior press secretary has expressed confidence that Treasury statements regarding Defence Ministry expenditures were made carefully and responsibly, signalling the government's stance on recent scrutiny of defence spending.
LSN Malaysia ·

The Prime Minister's office has called on Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to verify facts before making public statements on defence spending, according to Anwar Ibrahim's senior press secretary. The statement reflects the government's position on recent discussions surrounding expenditures by the Defence Ministry.
The press secretary expressed confidence that any statements issued by the Treasury regarding Defence Ministry spending were made with due diligence and were not made carelessly. This underscores the government's commitment to fiscal accountability in defence matters.
The matter appears to stem from recent exchanges between government officials regarding defence expenditure figures. The Prime Minister's office has signalled its expectation that all officials, including those in senior positions, should conduct thorough fact-checking before commenting on government financial matters.
The exchange highlights ongoing scrutiny of public spending in Malaysia, particularly in high-value departments such as defence. Government officials have consistently maintained that expenditure decisions are made in accordance with established financial protocols and public accountability standards.