Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasir said it was a huge sum to build a hall at a time when the Covid-19 crisis is worsening in the country.

The letter, dated Jan 11 and addressed to the director-general of the Public Works Department (JKR), was from the Implementation Coordination Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department.

The letter also said it was the prime minister’s wish that the project be implemented as soon as possible and directed JKR to start work on the site by March 1.

“If this letter is fake, it would be good to deny it immediately,” Akmal said in a Facebook post.

Its authenticity has yet to be confirmed and FMT has sought a response from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Please enlighten us,” said Akmal, adding that the funds should have been prioritised for frontliners or utilised to help lighten the burden faced by people during the emergency.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, declared a state of emergency on Jan 12 to curb the spread of Covid-19 and consented that it last until Aug 1.

A day before that, five states and the three federal territories were placed under the movement control order (MCO) as the number of Covid-19 cases was spiralling. The MCO has also been extended to Kelantan from today.