PUTRAJAYA: The government wants to know where the RM19 billion in Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds is, if the money is not stolen as claimed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said if the money was found, then PAC’s findings that the money had not been stolen could be deemed to be accurate.
“If we can find it, then it is not missing. If we cannot find, then it is missing,” he said after chairing Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s supreme council meeting here today.
Earlier today, PAC chairman Datuk Noraini Ahmad said the RM19.4 billion in GST refund money had not gone missing as claimed. She said that, based on the committee’s findings, the money was used to pay for the government’s management and development expenditure.
She said the previous Barisan Nasional government had channeled the money collected through GST into a consolidated revenue account.
The money was later transferred in stages to the GST refund consolidated fund (Kumpulan Wang Pembayaran Balik GST) as decided by the GST Refund Committee, she said.
On an unrelated matter, Dr Mahathir said Bersatu had agreed to amend the party’s constitution to allow all members to contest in its polls.
Dr Mahathir, who is Bersatu chairman, said the supreme council, in its meeting today, had decided to convene a special meeting on July 20 to officially amend the constitution to allow the motion.
The event will be held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
“We discussed the matter at length in the meeting today.
“Amendments will be made so that ordinary members can also play a role in deciding the election for division and branch committees.
“From the division, delegates can decide on the party’s top leadership,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said each registered member of Bersatu would have the right to contest for all positions in the party.
“They must be registered to be able to contest for the position of chairman, president and deputy president,” he added.