Umno PAC member's remark on GST refunds rebutted by fellow members

Two members of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have rebutted the remark by an opposition member on the committee that RM19.4 billion in goods and services tax (GST) refunds is not missing as has been alleged.

DAP lawmakers Wong Shu Qi (Kluang MP) and Wong Hon Wai (Bukit Bendera MP) said that Ahmad Hamzah (above), the BN MP for Jasin an also on the committee had jumped to his own conclusion in saying that the refunds are still in the consolidated account.

"The PAC has sat on the matter and numerous witnesses including former finance minister Najib Abdul Razak and former treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah were called.

“The final witness, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng also completed his testimony on Nov 14,” the two said in a joint statement today.

"The PAC is currently in the midst of housekeeping for GST refunds proceedings and has yet to deliberate on the testimony of the witnesses and the findings. Contrary to what Ahmad has claimed, the PAC report is not expected to be tabled until the next Parliament sitting," said the MPs.

"It is factually flawed for Ahmad to state that the said sum of RM19.4 billion is in the consolidated account," they added.

Their statement comes following Ahmad's remark in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the funds were not missing and were still in the consolidated account.

'Stop misleading the House'

Shu Qi and Hon Wai urged Ahmad to stop misleading the Dewan Rakyat with his own judgment on the matter.

"Ahmad had failed to demonstrate his impartiality on a subject matter which is expected of a PAC member. This is a serious conflict of interest.

"We trust that it is prudent for Ahmad to wait for the PAC to deliberate on the findings and present its report to Parliament. The PAC will seek and reveal the truth to all," they said.

Lim had told the Dewan Rakyat in August that RM19.4 billion in GST refunds were misappropriated by the previous BN administration.

Lim's predecessor, Najib, has denied the allegation stating that the money was put into the government's consolidated fund which was paid out to a trust fund meant to facilitate repayments periodically. - Mkini