Kelantan Federal Action Council chairman Mustapa Mohamed said today the state government was definitely facing financial weaknesses.

However, the federal government was assisting it, based on the spirit of federalism.

“Giving such grants is a must under the Federal Constitution,” he said, adding that Kelantan was among the states that received substantial assistance from the federal government.

He was asked by reporters to comment on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng describing Kelantan as a failed and bankrupt state under PAS’s governance. Lim also called PAS a failed party.

Mustapa conceded there were weaknesses whether in the federal government or state governments, including Kelantan and Penang, although the important thing was that action was taken to overcome the weaknesses.

“(In Penang), many Bumiputeras are sidelined as the state government does not build enough low-cost houses. This has forced many to move to the mainland.

“This is its failure, which the Penang state government should admit and correct,” he said.

Earlier, Mustapa, who is also international trade and industry minister, attended a town hall programme on current issues with federal department and agency heads in Pengkalan Chepa here.

He said the dialogue programme would be extended statewide to explain current issues to the people, including public servants, so that they would not be influenced by those out to slander the government.

Present were Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Asyraf Wajdi reminded the public to be wary of information posted on social media regarding the halal issue.

He said many halal status issues were being recycled although the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) had given proper explanations on some that were raised earlier.

He said people should first verify the information they received and not disseminate it to others without verification.