DISPUTES over government allocations usually remain behind closed doors. One recent disagreement, however, has erupted in public, drawing in senior civil servants and political aides from PKR and UMNO at a time when relations between the two parties are already under strain.
Nevertheless, the public quarrel over payments to rural contractors appears to be more than an administrative dispute. It may be an early proxy battle between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, the UMNO president, fired the first salvo by complaining that he was not “angry but just hot” at the sight of contractors having completed work for the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, of which he is also the Minister.
But they were unpaid because the Finance Ministry had not released the funds. Some contractors, he claimed, were facing severe cash flow problems and even closure.
UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh then raised the temperature. He claimed that the nearly RM1 bil approved for the Rural and Regional Development Ministry had not been channelled.
He directly and bluntly asked PMX who is also the Finance Minister whether the Madani government had run out of money or whether there was “another agenda” behind the delay.
This prompted a response from Treasury’s secretary-general Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican that the allocation for rural roads had been fully disbursed but almost all of it had already been spent.
‘Underlings cross swords’
It also accused Zahid’s ministry of making commitments beyond its annual allocations by stating that savings from other ministries might be needed to cover the shortfall. Moreover, an additional RM300 mil was approved to help settle outstanding payments.
PMX’s political secretary Kamil Abdul Munim then shared the Treasury statement and asked how any allocation could be sufficient if a ministry spent beyond its budget.
However, Zahid’s press secretary Fadzmel Fadzil subsequently rejected the Treasury’s version as misleading. He argued that ministries cannot spend money without authorisation and that many commitments arose from projects delayed during the pandemic.
He also disputed the description of the RM300 mil as additional funding, contending that it was an allocation already owed to the ministry.
As it is, there is no evidence of PMX nor Zahid instructed their respective allies to attack but the pattern is difficult to ignore. The two leaders have avoided confronting each other directly while their underlings and party figures advance competing narratives in public.
The rare dispute involving bureaucrats and politicians from within the Madani government comes at a time of emerging fracture within the ruling coalition, particularly between UMNO and PKR.
Barisan Nasional (BN) has emerged stronger following its commanding victory in Johor and subsequent to its alliance with PAS/Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Negeri Sembilan. On the other hand, the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) has suffered successive electoral setbacks.
Zahid now has more room to press his self-proclaimed “cikgu” in PMX and demonstrate to UMNO grassroots that he is capable of defending the party’s interests instead of playing second fiddle in the Madani government whether now or after the next general election.
Another element in the row is how politically sensitive rural development is. It involves village infrastructure, local contractors and communities that form an important part of UMNO’s political base.
Zahid….
Zahid….Ikut suka kau je berbelanja ya.
Lepas tu nak hot hot pulak.
Dasar perangai UMNO pic.twitter.com/pr65kuHNND
— Adam Yusuf (@adamyusuf88) September 2, 2026
The Treasury’s version suggests that Zahid’s ministry may have over-committed itself for political gain. Even then, Zahid’s version makes PMX’s administration look as though it is trying to clip his wings.
Be that as it may, the unity government is unlikely to collapse over RM300 mil. But this dispute nevertheless shows how the fissures within the fragile ruling coalition are widening as the balance of power shifts.
But the quarrel is about contractors today. Tomorrow, it could be about who controls the government of the day. – Sept 3, 2026
Main image credit: Zam Zuri in Datuk Seri ANWAR IBRAHIM pembela rakyat/Facebook [sic]
