“Someone asked if it was true that I’m going to spend RM2 billion (to implement initiatives in the manifesto).

“During the pandemic I spent RM530 billion but no one questioned it,” he said at a ceramah in Jeram last night, alluding to the time when he was prime minister between March 2020 and August 2021, during which the government also declared an emergency for six months to manage the pandemic.

Muhyiddin said the only person who did not understand this (spending RM530 billion) was his Pakatan Harapan (PH) counterpart Anwar Ibrahim.

He added that the coalition could dip into the state’s coffers to implement the electoral pledges.

“What is the point of keeping so much money in the reserves when times are tough. That is why we will use a part of the state’s reserves to fulfil PN’s manifesto.”

Separately, Muhyiddin said they would review the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) project if PN formed the government in Selangor.

The RM700 million river-widening project is back in the limelight after PN election director Sanusi Nor made several allegations over caretaker Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari’s involvement in the project with Berjaya Group founder Vincent Tan.

Sanusi claimed that Tan intended to develop a RM10 billion project by acquiring 600 acres of land in Selangor.

Sanusi also claimed that the project, which involved a company owned by Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), would see Selangor lose around RM180 million.

Berjaya Land and Tan have since demanded an apology from Sanusi as well as RM200 million in compensation for slandering them in relation to the SMG.

Last night, Amirudin demanded a public apology and RM10 million in damages from Sanusi over remarks deemed defamatory.