Anwar lied about the RM2 billion cost to prepare the 12th Malaysia Plan draft

(FMT) – Economic affairs minister Mustapa Mohamed has denied that the government spent over RM2 billion on foreign consultants to prepare the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) as alleged by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Instead, he said the five-year national development plan was prepared by officers from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister’s Department, under his watch, with input from various quarters.

Mustapa, who is Jeli MP, said the government did not spend the amount claimed by opposition leader Anwar during the debate on the 12MP at the Dewan Rakyat earlier today.

“The cost to prepare the 12MP was very small. It was for engagement sessions (sesi libat urus), printing and media consultancy,” he said in a statement today.

“I hope Anwar can correct his statement to avoid negative perception towards the EPU officers and the government.”

Anwar had claimed that more than RM2 billion was spent by the government on foreign consultants to help prepare the report.

He said the allocation should have instead been given to experts inside the country to conduct the necessary studies, particularly those related to poverty, in preparing the document.