KUALA TERENGGANU – The Terengganu state government has expressed its intention to get the remaining loan repayment from the federal government in cash rather than through development projects in the state.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the total repayment owed by the federal government for the construction of the East Coast Expressway 2(LPT2) stood at RM1.85 billion.
He said a total of RM418.5 million had been paid in the form of projects namely the Jalan FT3 Awana Kijal project worth RM118.5 million and the affordable homes projects (RM100 million), in addition to a cash advance of RM200 million.
“The remaining amount to be paid is RM1.43 billion…several discussions have been conducted with the federal government, and we received a response from the Finance Ministry October last year, which I categorised as ‘not productive.’
“(But) now we receive positive signs, where discussions between the Finance Minister and I on the preparation of a Cabinet Paper on the LPT2 debt issue will be held on Monday (March 28) in Putrajaya,” he said at the winding-up session of the state legislative assembly in Wisma Darul Iman here today.
Ahmad Samsuri said he hoped a decision that favoured Terengganu could be achieved during the discussion.
Meanwhile, he expressed his appreciation to all parties for helping the Terengganu people during the recent floods.
“An unforeseen tragedy, massive, extraordinary floods. Thank you to all including the Prime Minister who had visited (Hulu Terengganu district) on March 2.
“May Allah repay your good deeds with manifold reward,” he said before requesting all members of the state assembly to rise and give a round of applause to mark the state’s appreciation.
The state legislative assembly sitting adjourned sine dine today.
