PAC set to table report on 'missing' GST refunds in July
The Public Accounts Committee is expected to table its report on the "missing" GST refunds totalling RM19.4 billion in the next parliamentary sitting, which commences on July 1.
"I believe the report can be tabled in the first week of the Dewan Rakyat sitting,” PAC deputy chairperson Wong Kah Woh told Malaysiakini today...
The Public Accounts Committee is expected to table its report on the "missing" GST refunds totalling RM19.4 billion in the next parliamentary sitting, which commences on July 1.
"I believe the report can be tabled in the first week of the Dewan Rakyat sitting,” PAC deputy chairperson Wong Kah Woh (above) told Malaysiakini today.
According to Wong, PAC has concluded its probe into the GST refunds, and will conduct housekeeping on June 19.
The probe was initiated last September after Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told the Dewan Rakyat that RM19.4 billion in GST refunds had been misappropriated by the previous administration.
Lim's predecessor Najib Abdul Razak denied the allegation, stating that the money was put into the government's consolidated fund, which was paid out to a trust fund meant to facilitate periodic repayments.
The PAC had previously expected to wrap up its probe by the end of 2018, and table its report in the March parliamentary sitting.
By March, however, the committee was still in the midst of verifying documents with the National Audit Department, and called up former Customs Department director-general Subromaniam Tholasy.
Ronald Kiandee, the PAC chairperson at the time, then said that the report would be tabled in April, before the sitting adjourned on April 11.
PAC probes 'flying car'
In another development, Wong said the PAC will call up International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali in relation to the confusion over the "flying car" mooted by Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Mohd Yusof (photo).
"PAC feels that the matter had created (lots) of confusion and the minister has on and off come out with confusing statements," he said.
"(So) we want to know how the project would be carried out, and how it is being funded.
"After the minister's statement (on May 14), we will also call the International Trade and Industry Ministry so that we know about its jurisdiction."
Lokman is expected to give his statement on June 19, said Wong.
On May 14, he stated on his Facebook page that Redzuan testified on the first day of the PAC probe into the much-ridiculed "flying car."
According to Wong, Redzuan told the PAC exactly what he was reported as saying – that the project would be privately funded, and that research would cost around RM1 million.
The local firm that the minister said would be working on the project, Aerodyne Group, later confirmed that it was not developing an airborne car.
Rather, its Vector vehicle – a model of which was on display at this year's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) exhibition – is designed to be a point-to-point air transportation system.
