KUALA LUMPUR: Former Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has schooled a DAP MP over how supplementary allocations are dispersed within the federal government system.
In criticising Chong Zhe Min’s (PH-Kampar) allegation that Dr Wee had misled the House while debating Budget 2027, Dr Wee shot back, saying there are thorough procedures in place.
The Ayer Hitam MP explained that such allocations must first go through the ministry's Development Action Meeting, chaired by its minister and attended by representatives from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and Finance Ministry.
“There is nothing wrong with making adjustments to approved budgets.
“As a former minister, I know that if a ministry needs additional funds, it must be approved by the EPU, which raises the ceiling.
“It will then require approval from the Finance Ministry for payment warrants.
“The payments are also done in phases and not in a lump sum,” he told a press conference at the Parliament media centre here on Thursday (Oct 15).
Dr Wee added that adjustments could also be discussed between ministry secretaries-general and the Treasury secretary-general.
“We do not want any Tom, Dick and Harry to jump in and make assumptions that something is wrong.
“I cannot let the public assume that the minister can just take money as he wishes.
“The money is properly controlled and there is no way the minister can just take that money,” he said.
When debating Budget 2027, Dr Wee sought an explanation for the RM2.1bil difference between the Rural and Regional Development Ministry's approved allocations and actual expenditure from 2023 to 2025, saying this was necessary to dispel allegations of embezzlement.
Chong then interjected and accused Dr Wee of misleading the House by saying there were additional allocations.
He later gave Dr Wee 24 hours to retract the statement or risk being referred to the Dewan Rakyat’s Rights and Privileges Committee.
To this, Dr Wee rejected the demand, maintaining that Chong had misunderstood the procedures involved in obtaining additional allocations.
“Every time I debate, he raises the Standing Order and accuses me of misleading the House.
“He did not understand the procedures behind how additional allocations can be obtained.
“I will not waste my time with him,” he said.
