The Barisan Nasional MP for Jasin, YB Ahmad Hamzah has jumped to his own and pre-judged conclusion that the RM19.4 billion meant for goods and services tax (GST) refunds are not missing and the same is in the (consolidated) accounts.
The Parliament Public Account Committee had sat on the matter and numerous witnesses including the Former Minister of Finance, YB Najib Razak and the former Treasury Secretary General, Tan Sri IRwan Serigar were called. The final witness, i.e. the Finance Minister, YB Lim Guan Eng, had also completed his testimony to the PAC on 14.11.2018.
The PAC is currently in the midst of house-keepings for the GST-refund proceedings and has yet to deliberate on the testimony of the witnesses and the findings. Contrary to what Ahmad Hamzah has claimed, the PAC report is not expected to be tabled until the next Parliament sitting. It is also factually flaw for Ahmad Hamzah to state that the said sum of RM19.4 billion is in the consolidated accounts.
As a PAC member, Ahmad Hamzah should not mislead the House with his own judgment. Further, Ahmad Hamzah, when addressing his own and pre-judged conclusion as to the factual findings of the proceedings, has failed to demonstrate his impartiality on the subject matter that is expected from a PAC member. There is a serious conflict of interest.
We trust that it is prudent for Ahmad Hamzah to wait for the PAC to deliberate on the findings and present its report to the Parliament. The PAC will seek and reveal the truth to all.