KJ: Cops must issue statement on ‘robbed’ GST allegations

KUALA LUMPUR: The police must issue a statement after the Public Accounts Committee had cleared the former Barisan Nasional government of “robbing” some RM18bil in GST refund claims, says Umno’s Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Rembau MP said this was because these allegations are tantamount to accusations of criminal activities.

“I made a statement when I lodged the police report. When the report is verified by the PAC, I think the police should follow up on that.

“Because this is in relation to a crime. If there are no criminal elements, the police must come up with a statement, at least,” he told a press conference with Opposition leaders in Parliament on Monday (July 15).

Last August, Khairy lodged a report over allegations of missing monies in GST refunds, saying that the police must investigate the matter as it is a crime.

Earlier Monday, PAC chairman Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad, in a statement, said that no money was missing from the GST refunds.

According to Dr Noraini, the GST refunds were used for government expenditure instead.

She added that the Barisan government had collected the money and kept it in the consolidated revenue account and then transferred it stage by stage as decided by the GST refund repayment committee, when it was needed.

Last August, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had told Parliament that RM19.4bil was “missing”.

Lim had told the Dewan Rakyat that the former Barisan government had not been able to refund companies their credit tax from GST because 93% of the money had not been placed in the correct account.