Much of the federal government's RM2 million 'goodwill money' that the Education Ministry had allocated on improving education in the rural areas in Terengganu has instead been used to enrich Umno leaders, said a PAS politician.

"Students and schools are not the only ones benefitting from the 'goodwill money'. Leaders of Umno divisions are also gaining as they are the main recipients of the ministry's contracts," PAS Kuala Terengganu MP Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi told malaysiakini today.

Syed Azman was commenting on Education Minister Musa Mohamad's statement reported today in Berita Harian that PAS should credit the federal government for the achievements of students in Terengganu for their superior results in the recent UPSR exams.

Results announced last Thursday revealed that 10.8 percent of those who sat for the exams in Terengganu this year achieved straight As in all subjects, higher than the national average of 6.8 percent.

Musa said "it would not be wrong for PAS to credit the Education Ministry and the federal government for having done its job well" for spending some 'goodwill money' to improve schools in the rural areas of the cash-strapped state.

'Goodwill money', or wang ehsan , refers to oil royalties amounting to RM250 million a year that the Terengganu government enjoyed as a five percent cut from the state's annual oil and gas production.

In 2000, the Umno-led federal government announced its decision to stop paying the oil royalties after PAS won control of the state and instead offer 'goodwill money' to the Terengganu people through projects determined by Putrajaya.

Documented proof

Syed Azman claimed to have documentary proof, including a list of the mostly Umno leaders in Terengganu who were awarded with Education Ministry's contracts to build and improve school infrastructures.

"From Besut to Kemaman, we have a list of those recipients, mostly Umno leaders of divisions and youth wings, who were awarded such contracts," he said.

Contracts to build about three to four new schools have been awarded to these Umno leaders, while other contracts consisted of such renovation and renewal works as replacing new fences (surrounding the schools), he said.

"Upon being awarded the tenders, however, these contracts were then sold to other companies to complete the jobs, which leaves each original contractors an easy profit of at least RM1 million," Syed Azman said.

Syed Azman did not disclose further details concerning the allegations, but insisted that the evidence would be revealed at a more 'opportune' time.

"We won't reveal the evidence we have right now, but we will. Maybe when it comes time for elections, we will make public the proof."