Adnan also claimed that Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng was merely politicising the matter by bringing it up now during the Cameron Highlands by-election.
“The total debt owed by Pahang is not more than RM700 million because we took over certain responsibilities from the federal government.
“For example, the state organised Sukan Malaysia in Pahang (in 2012) and handled the big floods in Pahang (in 2014).
“All these should by right be shouldered by the federal government.
“It’s so unfortunate for him to capitalise on this matter, which is not even an issue,” he told reporters after a visit to the Orang Asli Sungai Ruil village here.
Lim was reported as stating that the state recorded a deficit budget from 2014 to 2017 and owed the federal government RM3.178 billion.
He also questioned how the Pahang government planned to develop the state considering it was unable to even fulfil its debt obligations to the federal government. He said the debt was the highest among all the states.
Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had earlier said the state government spent RM200 million on organising Sukma 2012 and the sum had not been repaid by the federal government.
Asked about Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s visit to help the Pakatan Harapan in campaigning for its candidate M Manogaran in the Cameron Highlands by-election, Adnan said it was unfortunate that Mahathir had not come as an Umno member.
“He has done a lot for the nation. But I feel a bit awkward when Tun comes down, but hopefully the people there give him a good response. When it comes to the voting tomorrow, I hope Barisan Nasional will still win.
“Whatever it is, Tun is like a father to me. I have no ill feelings towards him. He is like my own father.
“I tell you, Tun is the only figure who is holding up PH. When Tun retires, PH will be in shambles,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bernama reports Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar as claiming that the Pahang government approved permits to 73 farmers to utilise 146ha of land in Cameron Highlands.
In a statement here today, he said it was disappointing that part of the land came under a permanent forest reserve which now needed to be rehabilitated.
According to him, the area had been exploited illegally over several decades.
Jayakumar said this move by the Pahang government would encourage widespread illegal land encroachment in the environmentally-sensitive highlands.
This could lead to serious problems like floods and landslides, as was seen in 2013, he added.