Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told Parliament today that certain states have made requests in writing to seek funds because they couldn't afford to pay the salaries of state civil servants.

The war of words between the minister and PAS leaders followed an exchange in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday on Kelantan's finances.

Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Baru) had asked Lim if states affected by the suspension of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) could fund the project themselves.

Lim responded that he was not confident that Kelantan would be able to raise funds for the project because “it could not even pay salaries” for the civil servants.