PAC summons Najib over missing GST refunds
PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee has summoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for its inquiry into the government's claim that RM19.4 billion meant for Goods and Services Tax refunds was missing.
The PAC would also be calling up current Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on Oct 22 for his views on the matter, said committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.
"The PAC has also decided unanimously to ask former treasurergeneral Tan Sri Irwan Serigar Abdullah to appear on Oct 16, although he has attended previous proceedings on Sept 13.
"The committee hopes to come up with a conclusion and provide suggestions to the government on the issue when a PAC report on the matter is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat after all three have provided their explanation," said Dr Kiandee in a statement yesterday.
Lim said that some RM18 billion of the RM19.4 billion input tax credit under the GST had been "robbed" by the previous administration.
He said as of May 31, the outstanding GST refund sum stood at RM19.39 billion but there was only RM1.486 billion in the repayment fund.
Lim said from the total input tax credit, RM9.2 billion or 47% was recorded between Jan 1 and May 31 this year, RM6.8 billion or 35% in 2017, RM2.8 billion (15%) in 2016, and RM600mil (3%) in 2015 (from April 1 to Dec 31, 2015).
Under the GST, the input tax credit allowed businesses to reclaim credit for taxes paid on purchases after they have filed input tax documents.
Dr Kiandee said two former second finance ministers had given their statements to the PAC on Sept 12 and Sept 13.
They were Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, who served from March 2008 till June 2016, and Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who held the post from June 2016 till April 2018.
In another matter, Dr Kiandee said the PAC had agreed to reopen proceedings on companies owned by the Finance Ministry in relation to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), in line with a motion on Aug 16 in the Dewan Rakyat.
He said proceedings on the matter would start soon.
On Aug 16, the Finance Ministry tabled a motion calling for the AuditorGeneral and the PAC to reopen a probe into the 1MDB scandal.