SERDANG: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has challenged Datuk Seri Najib Razak to prove that RM18 billion in Goods and Services Tax (GST) money is not missing.
"If the money is not missing, show us where the money is," he said, addressing the former prime minister.
Dr Mahathir said he is aware of the ongoing dispute between Najib and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on the missing GST input tax refund monies, with Najib dismissing the allegation.
Instead, the former prime minister said it is possible that the newly-minted government had spent money which was in the consolidated fund to cover expenses when they zero-rated the GST from June 1.
“What probably happened is that when they zero-rated the GST, businesses immediately rushed to get back their input tax credit," he said.
When asked if Pakatan Harapan had used the GST money for government expenditure after coming into power in May, Dr Mahathir said: "Well, we are short of money... that is a fact.
"(But) we have not stolen money, like Najib," he said while at Perdana University here today after touring the Tun M: A Forever Legacy exhibition.
He added that a lot of money has been earmarked for servicing loans, and that the government is also trying to retire some loans.
On top of that, he said the people are also expecting the government to give them money "for free."
The prime minister accused Najib of creating the habit of "giving away money freely” and that now, the people are expecting handouts.
Meanwhile, the Customs Department had announced that only RM63.5 billion of GST refunds was paid between April 1, 2015, and May 31 this year.
Its director-general Datuk Seri T Subromaniam said during the said period, the department had requested RM82.9 billion during Trust Fund meetings which were held on a monthly basis, but that the full amount had not been transferred to the Trust Fund.
“From April 1, 2015, to May 31 this year, the Customs Department tabled before the Trust Fund meetings its need for GST refunds worth RM82.9 billion,” he said.
Asked if the government plans to table a supplementary bill next week in Parliament for expenditure, Dr Mahathir said the government is working on it.