PAC using parliamentary language in GST report, says Lim

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, when questioned about the absence of the word "stolen" in the Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) report on the delayed payment of RM19.4 billion in GST refunds, said the panel had adhered to parliamentary language.

Lim, who previously claimed the GST refunds were "stolen" (rompak), indicated that his position is similar to that of the PAC - that the GST funds were channelled elsewhere in breach of the law and utilised by the previous government when they were meant to have been refunded.

"It's how we want to interpret it. (For example), if we give allocations to the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the ministry must use them for the stated purpose.

"If they are used for a different purpose, then, thus the word (‘stolen’). The PAC will surely use, what I would say, words that are consistent with the culture and customs of Parliament.

"But the meaning is clear. If we also look at what the attorney-general said, it is very clear," he told journalists at the Parliament lobby today.

The PAC concluded that the GST refunds had not gone missing, but found the previous BN-led government deposited GST proceeds into the consolidated revenue account instead of the GST trust fund, in breach of the GST Act 2014.

The government subsequently spent the money on operations and development expenditure, resulting in GST refund delays, for which the new government had to seek help from Petronas to repay.

Lim said he respected the PAC's findings and recommendations on the matter, but noted that it did not address the terminology he used.

"This matter was not raised in the PAC report but the opposition is harping on it.

"If they want to harp on it, I will entertain them and I will fight them," he said.

The opposition has called for Lim to be referred to the rights and privileges committee for allegedly misleading the Dewan Rakyat by using the word "stolen" in reference to the GST refunds.

Lim accused the opposition of trying to draw attention away from its own issues, such as the appointment of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is facing 42 graft-related charges, as the BN advisory board chairperson.

"But that is their job and we have our job. What is important is the money is refunded to taxpayers," he said.

Treasury secretary-general Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir had also disagreed with the use of the word "stolen".

However, these led to questions about whether Ahmad Badri was at odds with Lim. The former subsequently released a statement to say that he has a good working relationship with Lim.

Asked about Ahmad Badri, Lim asked journalists to refer to the Treasury secretary-general's latest statement that all is well between them. - Mkini