ALOR STAR: Kedah Umno information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin has hit back at Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor over a claim that the state government's debt dated back to the Barisan Nasional state administration.
He said Sanusi's claim of the BN-led state government having accumulated a debt of RM200 million with the federal government between 2013 and 2015 to cover employee salaries was untrue.
He also accused Sanusi of manipulating facts to elevate himself and the Pas leadership in the state.
"He tried to hide the fact that the state government recorded debts with the federal government during his tenure as political secretary to the 10th Menteri Besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak.
"In reality, during that time, loans were taken to finance the Kolej Insaniah project, which was later taken over by Pas and transformed into Universiti Islam Antarabangsa
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (UniSHAMS)," he said in a statement today.
On Thursday, Sanusi had claimed that the current era under the Perikatan Nasional state administration is the best in terms of financial status for the state.
Sanusi had also alleged that during the BN administration from 2013 to 2015, the state government incurred a debt of RM200 million with the federal government to cover employee salaries and wages.
Shaiful said during his tenure as political secretary to the 12th Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, the financial performance of the state government was excellent.
"Employees of state-owned companies never complained about unpaid wages for seven months, nor did any foreign company delay investing in Kedah, and there were never any employees investigated or charged by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission."
Shaiful also said that during Pakatan Harapan's tenure leading the federal government in 2018, it granted aid to several state governments, including RM200 million to Kedah, Perak (RM50 million), and Kelantan (RM 400 million).
"Thus, what Sanusi accuses is untrue. The RM 200 million debt was a grant from the federal government without repayment required to assist Kedah.
"This proves that Sanusi's recent allegations are fraudulent."
Commenting further, Shaiful said Sanusi's performance leading Kedah is an actual failure and has been lackluster.
"To the extent that there were no bonuses given to state government employees for Hari Raya Aidilfitri. What else does Sanusi have to boast about?
"I am deeply saddened by Sanusi's self-serving political approach rather than serving the entire people of Kedah," he added.