Malaysia: Najib, Irwan to appear before PAC next week

• FORMER prime minister Najib Razak and former Treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah have been summoned to testify at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) next week, said a source.
• The two will be asked to explain to PAC how MYR18bn worth of goods and services tax (GST) refund money went missing.
• Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on 8 Aug 18 lifted the lid on the MYR18bn in GST refund money which went missing under the previous Barisan Nasional government.
• While the total outstanding amount was at MYR19.4bn as of 31 May 18, there was only MYR1.486bn left in the refund account, Lim said then. Lim is scheduled to give his statement to PAC on 22 Oct 18.
• The sum, meant to be input tax credits owed to more than 100,000 companies – with some claims dating back to 2015 – was not in the Tax Refunds Trust Fund after Pakatan Harapan took over the federal government.
• Irwan, however, has denied that the GST refund money was used by the previous government. He also said some MYR15bn in outstanding claims were unpaid as it needed verification and auditing to prevent fraud.
• Since reopening investigations in September, PAC has already questioned former second finance ministers Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah and Johari Abdul Ghani.
• Meanwhile, Najib left the MACC headquarters after more than six hours of questioning. This marks the fifth time the Pekan MP has been questioned by the anti-graft body.

External Link: https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/104133

External Link: https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/104172