In the ongoing saga over the supposed expenditure of RM1.6 million by the Youth and Sports Ministry for a K-Pop concert last year, Auditor-General Ambrin Buang maintains that the expenditure was made using government allocation.

NONEHe stated that during auditing, it discovered that a sum of money was paid for several activities concerning the National Youth Day 2012 celebration, which was considered “imprudent”, including the K-Pop concert.

"This expenditure has been made using the government allocation which was channelled through the Malaysian Youth Council and was not disputed by neither the Ministry’s officials nor the Malaysian Youth Council during our discussions with them in the course of our auditing.

"That is why the issue was raised in the audit report," he said in an email response to media.

NONEThis contradicted the claim made by then youth and sports minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek (left) that the payments were paid for with money that sponsors had banked into the National Sports Council's account, and not taxpayers' money.

Ahmad Shabery was discounting the statement by his successor Khairy Jamaluddin, who in turn had "admitted" that the ministry had been forced to pick up the tab to bring in the three South Korean pop groups after sponsors withdrew.

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