Guan Eng to give police statement

KUALA LUMPUR: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng will give his statement regarding the alleged RM19.25 billion shortfall in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Refunds Trust account to the police next week.

Lim said the refusal of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to answer questions about his role in the issue when the latter was finance minister had prompted him to lodge a police report.

“Najib has refused to clear the air about his involvement as former finance minister in this matter and said I should lodge a police report.

“My full cooperation with the police proves that the new government wants the truth to prevail.

“A huge number of companies and individuals affected by this scandal are wondering why RM19.4 billion in the GST Refunds Trust Accounts was not returned to them within two weeks as required by law.

“The refunds were from as far back as 2015 (RM610 million, or three per cent), 2016 (RM2,821 million, or 15 per cent), 2017 (RM6,782 million, or 35 per cent) and up to May 31, 2018 (RM9,184 million, or 47 per cent).”

“The police will record my statement next week, but I want Najib to explain who authorised the GST refunds not to be made within two weeks as required by law, and did he approve that the GST refunds, which were not paid back since 2015, were to be recognised as government revenue instead and to be used as the government pleased?

“Besides that, I would like to know if Najib approved the decision by former treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah not to transfer the full amount of RM82.9 billion refunds as requested by the Customs Department, but only RM63.5 billion since 2015; a shortfall of RM19.25 billion to the GST Refunds Trust Accounts.”

Lim said this was confirmed by Customs director-general Datuk Seri T. Subromaniam, who stated that the Customs Department had requested that RM82.9 billion be transferred to the GST Refunds Trust Accounts, but only RM63.5 billion was transferred.

This shortfall, he claimed, resulted in 121,429 companies and individuals not receiving their GST refunds since 2015.

“While the decisions were made by Irwan, Najib had a critical role to play as only the finance minister has the authority to approve the move,” Lim said.