He said strict enforcement by the Inland Revenue Board and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has enabled the government to recover the money to be channelled back to the people in need.

“In the past two years, we have collected the money that was lost; the people, including those in the villages and Felda settlements, need to know how the leaked money lost in the hands of certain people was recovered.

“We have to stop this,” he said, referring to revenue leakages. “That’s why we have to use political and social power to think how to defend the people’s fate,” he said when speaking at an event at Felda Semenchu.

Anwar said petrol and diesel subsidies and related assistance cost the government nearly RM6 billion a month, and the amount could increase if the global energy crisis continues.

At the event, the prime minister announced an allocation of RM500,000 for improvements to schools, mosques and infrastructure in Felda Semenchu.