He said the amount covers various expenditures including schools, education, border security and overall state development.
Anwar dismissed allegations that he had been deceptive about the allocation, urging all parties, particularly leaders he considers friends, to seek accurate information or ask him directly before making public statements.
“It is not just a RM6.6 billion (allocation for Sabah as alleged). The RM6.6 billion is solely for development.
“So who pays the teachers (salaries), repairs the roads and maintains border security? Those are all included in the total RM16 billion,” Anwar said in his speech at the Sabah PKR convention here today.
“If you want to be a friend, act like one. There must be decorum when it comes to friendship. You don’t need to thank us, just show a little appreciation. If (the allocation) is not sufficient, we can negotiate, and (you can) ask for more in a friendly manner.”
The event was attended by chief minister Hajiji Noor, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman, Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman Christina Liew and Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Bung Moktar Radin.
Also present were United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Ewon Benedick, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Arthur Joseph Kurup and Sabah PKR chairman Mustapha Sakmud.
On May 31, during his speech at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Kaamatan festival in Penampang near here, Anwar said since becoming prime minister, he has continuously worked to increase the allocation for Sabah to assist its people, raising it from RM12.9 billion in 2022 to RM16 billion this year.
He said last year, Putrajaya had allocated RM13.9 billion to the state, demonstrating its commitment through close cooperation with Hajiji, the state government and other unity government partners.
“I sympathise especially with the overcrowding in schools, the lack of business opportunities for the people, and the unemployment among young people.
“We are fighting from the ground up, not from an ivory tower, trying to reach out to every corner to solve these issues,” he said.