I refer to Malaysiakini article ‘ Donald Lim, MPs spar over national debt ’. In paragraph 12, it states: "If this continues we may have to bring him under standing order 36(12) for misleading the House," threatened Yusmadi, who is Balik Pulau elected representative”.

According to the Aturan Urusan Mesyuarat for Dec 2, the question posted by YB Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang) was "Bagaimanakah prestasi hutang negara iaitu hutang-hutang negara yang langsai dan belum dibayar balik?".

When YB Senator Donald Lim Siang Chai answered on behalf of Ministry of Finance in Parliament, he said, "Hutang luar negeri telah menurun kepada RM227.5 billion atau 30.3% daripada Pendapatan Negara Kasar (PNK) berbanding dengan RM233.1 billion, atau 35.1% daripada PNK pada ahkir 2009 yang mana, sebahagian besarnya mencerminkan penurunan jumlah hutang luar negeri jangka sederhana dan panjang."

This is in no conflict with the estimated ‘hutang negara’ for year 2010 as stated in Laporan Ekonomi 10/11, Page 122, published by the Ministry of Finance, which carried a figure of RM221,741 billion.

Azan Ismail and fellow PKR parliamentarian Yusmadi Yusoff are trying to confuse the public with ‘hutang negara’ and ‘hutang kerajaan persekutuan’, which Lim had explained to the members of media later on.

The writer is special assistant (media) to the deputy minister of finance.