Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim today rebutted the explanation given by the finance ministry that the "missing" RM1.4 billion contingency funds from last year was an "outdated issue" as it was topped up in a subsequent supplementary supply bill early this year.
"His answer creates more confusion. As per Standing Order 68(a) of the Dewan Rakyat with reference to constitutional provisions, if (a) Contingency Funds (bill) is tabled before the House, it must be tabled and decided upon, but cannot be debated," Anwar told reporters at a press conference in Parliament House today.
What was tabled and debated in Parliament in April and March this year, argued Anwar, was the supplementary budget bill and not the contingency funding.
The opposition had earlier pointed out the discrepancybetween the Auditor-General's Report and recent budget documents pertaining to the national Contingency Fund.
The balance was listed as RM79 million in the AG report, while the budget estimates show it to be at its full constitutionally mandated amount of RM1.5 billion.
Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin (left), however, refuted the opposition's claims of the "missing" funds yesterday, saying that the funds were already tabled and debated in a supplementary budget bill earlier this year which topped up the RM1.4 billion.
The RM1.4 billion was "used up first" and tabled in Parliament at the earliest possible opportunity.
[More to follow]
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