KUALA LUMPUR: The police have recorded Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s statement over the alleged missing RM19.25 billion from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Refund Trust Account, which affected 121,429 companies and individuals.
In a statement today, Lim said under the GST Act 2014, input tax refunds needed to be made within two weeks, but a huge number of companies and individuals did not receive the refunds from as far back as 2015.
“A huge number of the 121,429 companies and individuals affected by this scandal are now wondering why RM19.4 billion in the GST Refunds Trust Account was not returned to them within two weeks as required by law, whether from the years as far back as 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2018,” he said.
Lim said the government faced a shortfall of RM19.25 billion as there was only RM148.6 million in the GST Refunds Trust account, instead of RM19.4 billion.
“Where is the RM19.25 billion that went missing since 2015? The Federal Government is working hard to return RM19.4 billion beginning next year because the money does not belong to the government but the people,” he added. — Bernama
Cops record Guan Eng’s statement over ‘missing’ GST refunds
POLICE have recorded Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s statement over his claim that RM19.25 billion was missing from the goods and services tax (GST) refunds trust account.
He said his statement was taken in Parliament yesterday under Section 409 of the Penal Code which he claims affects 121,429 companies and Malaysians.
“A huge number of 121,429 companies and individuals affected by this scandal are now wondering why RM19.4 billion in the GST refunds trust account was not returned to them within two weeks as required by law, whether from the years as far back as 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2018,” Lim said in a statement today.
The Bagan MP reiterated the funds did not tally up to the money in the account as there was shortage which needed to be paid to the people.
“The government faces a shortfall of RM19.25 billion because there is only RM148.6 million in the GST refunds trust account, when there should be RM19.4 billion.
“Where is the RM19.25 billion that went missing since 2015?” Lim asked.
He also said the missing money would be raised by the Pakatan Harapan government to be returned to Malaysians.
“The federal government is working hard to return RM19.4 billion beginning next year because the money does not belong to the government but to the people.”
Lim question the dubious decisions regarding the GST money made during the Barisan Nasional administration which was led by former prime minister Najib Razak.
Najib, who was also finance minister should answer certain questions on the missing tax refunds, Lim said.
“Did Najib authorise that GST refunds not be made within two weeks as required by the law?
“Did Najib approve the decision by Mohd Irwan Serigar not to transfer the full amount of RM82.9 billion refunds as requested by Customs, but only RM63.5 billion since 2015 – a shortfall of RM19.25 billion, to the GST refunds trust account?” Lim asked, referring to the former treasury secretary-general.
Customs director-general Subromaniam Tholasy said that it had requested a total of RM82.9 billion in refunds for the period of April 1, 2015 to May 31, 2018 but only RM63.5 billion was released to it.
The request was made to the monthly meeting of the trust fund which is chaired by the Treasury secretary-general.
Meanwhile, Lim questioned if the refunds were channeled into some other government fund and used as revenue to be spent.
“Did Najib approve that the GST refunds not paid back since 2015, were to be recognised as government revenue instead and used as the government pleased?,” he asked.
Umno’s Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin has lodged a police report calling for investigations in to the matter, while Irwan also lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Lim also said that Najib might be hauled in by authorities to assist in investigations on the missing GST refunds. – THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
THE SUN DAILY / THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
I am for GST especially for it to plug govt's coffers. But even if GST also Najib sapu, thats' too much.
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