Dr M instructed me to expose financial scandals, says Guan Eng

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng

PETALING JAYA: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng (pic) has explained that his actions in revealing the financial scandals from the previous administration were done on the instruction of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“All the exposé of scandals related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and other scandals were done on the instruction of the Prime Minister,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Lim was responding to PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s suggestion that he asked other ministers or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to expose scandals as his position as the Finance Minister is deemed “sensitive”.

“I am not in a position to instruct other ministers to reveal scandals of the previous government which happened in the Finance Ministry which I am in charge of,” he said.

Lim said he has met Anwar several times to explain issues related to the economy and the financial scandals.

“The rakyat has the right to know the financial position of the country and its economy. The people do not want the Government to hide. When I met with Anwar, he has agreed on the issue. My ministry will continue to reveal all financial scandals in the (first) 100 days, as instructed by the Prime Minister,” he added.

Lim added that he appreciated Anwar’s input and welcome all opinions or feedback.

“All of these views will be accepted openly,” he said.

In an interview with a news portal, Anwar suggested Lim to “assign this to one or two other ministers, or even the MACC to explain the exposé".

Lim said the Finance Ministry has outlined an alternative plan to handle the country’s RM1 trillion debt through postponing projects and implementing austerity measures.

“These prudent initiatives are taken to ensure the budget deficit remains at 2.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.

He added that he has met various investors, local and foreign fund managers to explain the country’s  financial policies.