Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak may be recalled to give a statement to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the issue of the disappearance of the goods and services tax (GST) amounting to RM19.4 billion, if necessary.

PAC chairperson Ronald Kiandee said Najib, who was also the former finance minister, had given a statement today and he had rendered positive cooperation to explain all the questions directed by members of the PAC to him concerning the issue.

“I cannot reveal to you what transpired during the proceedings but he had given positive statement and cooperation to answer the questions asked by the PAC members.

“In principle, Najib explained on the flow of government funds, collection from the GST, and the returns with regard to the GST, and that is the issue that the PAC is working on at the moment and the question depends on the terms of reference of the PAC,” he said when met by reporters after the PAC proceedings on Najib at the Parliament building today.

Meanwhile, PAC deputy chairperson Wong Kah Woh said all explanation given by Najib today would be entered into the committee report which would later be tabled in Parliament after the conclusion of the proceedings.

“As far as today is concerned, whatever information that we needed and the testimony from Najib has been obtained,” he said.

He said the PAC would call the last witness for the proceedings, namely Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, which was expected to take place after the tabling of the 2019 Budget later.

Earlier, the PAC had called several individuals to give their statements on the issue, including Customs Department director-general Subromaniam Tholasy and former Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah.

Also called were former finance minister II Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah and Johari Abdul Ghani.

In August, Lim when tabling the GST (Abolition) Bill 2018 for second reading at the Dewan Rakyat disclosed that the arrears on payment of the input tax credit totalled RM19.4 billion since its implementation in April 2015 until May 31 this year.

- Bernama