So much noise about Timah, what about RM620mil in wasted funds, asks MP

KUALA LUMPUR: Following the Timah whisky brand controversy that triggered a lot of public discourse recently, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (IND-Muar) has suggested that parliamentary priorities may have been misplaced.

He pointed out that there were other pressing issues that needed to be debated in Parliament, but they were overshadowed by responses from ministers and MPs to the Timah issue.

Among the matters that should have been highlighted in Parliament last week, he said, was the Auditor-General's Report, which found that RM620mil was wasted in a government laptop programme.

"Over the past two weeks, we only heard calls for a name change to Timah," he said in Parliament on Monday (Nov 1) during the debate on the 2022 Supply Bill.

"But was the same focus and criticism given to the RM620mil issue? It is hundreds of millions of the people's money and (it was) all silence in this House, with Timah seeming to be the biggest issue," he said.

On Oct 28, it was reported that a total of RM620.07mil of public funds were lost or wasted last year due to non-compliance of ministries and departments with financial management practices.

Syed Saddiq then criticised Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man for skipping the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) that is currently taking place in Glasgow, Scotland until Nov 12.

"He is the Environment and Water Minister and commented at length on Timah but when it comes to representing the country internationally, he was absent.

"What kind of message are we sending here?" he said.

"The name of a company seemed more important than issues of leakages, malpractice, quality employment and education.

"So much time and effort towards cosmetic issues, but not enough time given to issues that are closest at heart to Malaysians," he added.

On Saturday (Oct 30), Tuan Ibrahim said the Cabinet had made a decision on the Timah controversy and the manufacture of local products that can cause anxiety among the people will no longer be allowed.