Investigate all including former Finance Minister, says KJ
Manirajan Ramasamy and Masriwanie Muhamading
New Straits Times9 August 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jamaluddin believes that all individuals related to the alleged disappearance of RM19.4 billion in Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds should be investigated, with no one spared.
This, said the Rembau member of parliament, includes the former finance minister, senior officers as well as relevant agencies.
The former finance minister was Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was also prime minister.
Khairy challenged Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng to furnish all the details pertaining the alleged disappearance of the money, which Lim had described as a “theft.”
The former Umno Youth chief said he had twice urged Lim to do so in the Dewan Rakyat.
"If there had been any misappropriation, whoever is responsible should be brought to face the music.
"He (Lim) made a serious allegation but could not furnish accurate details.
"If there are valid reasons, the people must know the truth," Khairy told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Thursday.
Earlier, Khairy had lodged a police report on the case at the Sentul district police headquarters.
He said he would also be lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Friday and expressed hope that the investigation would be allowed to run smoothly.
“We want to clear the name of the previous government led by Barisan Nasional (BN),” he said.
On Wednesday, Lim, during the second reading of the Services Tax Bill 2018 in the Dewan Rakyat, said the monies in question was owed to businesses over the past two years.
He alleged that the BN government did not follow GST guidelines and had ‘stolen’ the monies from a trust account from where the tax deduction was supposed to be refunded to businesses.
He said businesses were not paid the input tax credit due to them because the monies meant to be deposited into the government trust account were moved into a consolidated fund and spent.
Meanwhile, former International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad urged the government to immediately investigate Lim’s allegations that the previous BN government had stolen the RM19.4 billion.
The Jeli member of parliament said Lim’s claims were serious as it not only impugned the image of BN but also civil servants in the Finance Ministry and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
“These allegations are very serious as it meant the misuse of power and misappropriations were planned.
“The image of both the previous government and civil servants are tarnished. In my opinion, an in-depth investigation must be carried out immediately and completed within one week,” he said in a statement.
Mustapa said the results of the investigations should be made public as befits a responsible government.
“In the spirit of transparency and reformation promised by the government and in fairness to all parties, this issue should then be referred to the Public Accounts Committee,” he said. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
