Loke: Every ringgit recovered from corruption must benefit the people

MELAKA: The government will continue its fight against corruption and ensure public funds are not lost through leakages or waste.

Speaking at Pakatan Harapan's candidate announcement for the Melaka state election at Stadium Hang Jebat tonight, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said billions of ringgit recovered under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration should benefit the people directly.

"What we must guarantee is that there are no leakages, no waste, and no corruption. We will fight corruption relentlessly!" he said.

He said he had proposed to Anwar that part of the funds recovered from corruption and misappropriation be channelled directly to the public.

"When we recover public money, we return it to the people.

"I recently suggested to the prime minister: 'Datuk Seri, can a portion of the recovered funds, money plundered or lost through corruption that is retrieved by the government, be channelled directly back to the people?'" he said.

He said recovered funds were currently channelled to education and healthcare, although the public might not feel their impact directly.

Loke cited the RM91 million raised from the special "H" vehicle registration plate series, which is being used to provide RM1,000 to each taxi driver.

"To all taxi drivers in Melaka, please take note: I will be coming down this Monday morning to disburse RM1,000 directly to each taxi driver," he said.

He said that savings from subsidy reforms were also being returned to the public through increased cash aid for the B40 group, tax cuts for the M40 and schooling assistance announced in the Budget two weeks ago.

"As a result of subsidy rationalisation, we save billions of ringgit in government expenditure each year. And every single ringgit saved is returned directly to the people.

"We assist the poor, we assist the middle class, we assist school children—we assist everyone.

"This is what we do, because we believe that we have been entrusted to govern, to safeguard this nation, and to protect our wealth and revenues for the welfare of the people," he added.