In a rare move, Pahang government will have to convene a special sitting to re-table its 2010 budget due to a "technical mistake" by putting a wrong year on the balance sheet.

NONE The balance sheet prepared for the budget, which was passed last week, had the year 2008 instead of 2009. Opposition members of parliament today pointed out the mistake.

When asked to comment, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz suggested that a special sitting will be convened to rectify the mistake.

"To my knowledge, the matter has to be brought back to the Pahang state assembly sitting for a correction to be made.

"I do not think there is any provision in the books for the correction to be done outside the assembly," he told reporters in Parliament.

Although this was a technical matter, it must be corrected to avoid future legal implications, he added.

"This is a big mistake as it involves a year and correction must be done," he said.

Pahang PKR to monitor

At a press conference in Parliament lobby earlier, Azan Ismail (PKR-Indera Mahkota) said even though the mistake was technical, it had massive legal implications.

NONE "The mistake might have been overlooked by those who had prepared the document but this would also mean that the state government could not spend money next year," said Azan, adding that he had discovered the mistake while doing research on the state expenditure on water projects.

"The balance sheet was for the state finances in 2008 but those preparing it should have initialled it to indicate that it was prepared in 2009 and for 2010 Budget.

"Now the impression is that it was signed in 2008 and is for the Budget 2009. That has already been done and the allocation for this year already spent," he said.

For Yusmadi Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau), the correction has to be done in the legislative assembly.

"It cannot be done as an addendum or some indication is made to show a correction had been made," he said, adding that the gazetted document has to be taken back to the state assembly for further changes.

Yusmadi said the Pahang PKR will monitor the situation to determine its next course of action.

"Whether the matter should be taken to court, we will decide later," he said.