KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has described Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong’s explanation over the Rural and Regional Development Ministry’s RM2.1bil expenditure controversy as accurate.
This followed a heated exchange in the Dewan Rakyat between the Ayer Hitam MP and Kampar MP Chong Zhemin, who had moved to refer Dr Wee to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee over allegations that he had made statements that could have misled the Lower House about the ministry’s expenditure.
Dr Wee said he had never accused anyone of misappropriating the funds, but had sought clarification on the financial approval processes involved to prevent perceptions that the money had disappeared or had been given to ministers to spend at their discretion.
He said he had been referred to the committee and asked to explain himself over the controversy, adding that he had written to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker seeking an opportunity to clear his name.
“What I said was that something had happened, and I was referring to the statement by the Treasury secretary-general, which mentioned the figures cited by the Deputy Prime Minister.
“I never said that anyone had ‘sakau-ed’ the money. Various allegations have been made. I asked for clarification so that the government’s image would not be tarnished. That is all,” he said during the ministry’s winding-up session in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Oct 26).
Dr Wee said any revision to the allocation had to go through the proper approval process, whether through the Economic Planning Unit for development expenditure or through warrant financing by the Finance Ministry.
“I know this because I have been a minister before. Without these approvals, the money cannot be released.
“Only now has there been an acknowledgement of the actual expenditure. That is why I said it would be best to explain all three processes.
“If these processes are omitted, it gives the impression that the money has disappeared or that it was handed to ministers to spend as they pleased,” he said.
Zahid subsequently backed Dr Wee’s explanation, saying the Ayer Hitam MP had provided the correct answer before proceeding with his ministerial explanation.
“Do you hear that, Kampar? That is the correct answer. Ayer Hitam’s answer is correct,” he said.
Chong had previously challenged Dr Wee to identify who had used the word “sakau” in relation to the RM2.1bil expenditure controversy.
He had also lodged an MACC report over the spending on Oct 6 and challenged Dr Wee to substantiate his claim that additional allocations had been approved, arguing that the discrepancy between the original allocations and actual expenditure from 2023 to 2025 required further explanation.
