Lim: Asyraf missed the mark on Turkey trip
PUTRAJAYA: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed that the Malaysia Totalisator Board had, in 2017, approved the controversial work trip programme to Istanbul, Turkey, for police top brass, before Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over the government.
He said this in response to criticism levelled against him by Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki via Facebook, stating that the PH government, especially the finance minister, was insensitive to the principles of Islam and people’s sentiments by using funds from numbers forecast operator Da Ma Cai to sponsor the trip.
“Asyraf has missed the mark. I was told that the Totalisator Board had approved the said programme in 2017.
“He was the deputy minister (in the government) during that time. Does he actually refer to himself? The (approved) cost (of the trip) by the statutory company, Malaysia Totalisator Board, was RM184,685.
“Before you (Asyraf) point a finger at others, do keep in mind that four other fingers are pointing at yourself,” Lim said yesterday after attending a Chinese New Year programme hosted by the Customs Department.
He reiterated the matter was not referred to the Finance Ministry. “I only knew about the trip when I read in the newspapers that it was sponsored by the Malaysia Totalisator Board.”
He added that he did not want to say more than what he had said on Wednesday, but Asyraf had played a dangerous and myopic political game.
“He uses sensitive sentiments just because I am not a Muslim. And the approval (by Totalisator Board) was done before we (PH) become the government. So he (Asyraf) should look at himself in the mirror first.”
The board, formed under the Racing (Totalisator Board) Act 1961, is responsible for controlling and coordinating betting on horse races.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday was reported as saying that he had given the green light for the police top brass’ working trip to Istanbul.
Muhyiddin said the goal of the trip was for police to gather knowledge on new illegal online gambling schemes and tactics.
Lim said on Wednesday he would check if his ministry had the authority to compel the agency to seek its approval before approving future sponsorships.
“Current procedure states that it only needs the approval of the board of directors and does not have to be referred to the Finance Ministry.
“We want to check if, after this, we can ensure that it (Totalisator Board) gets the go-ahead from us first.”