KUALA LUMPUR: Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin has lodged a police report over Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng's claim that the previous Barisan Nasional government had "robbed" some RM18bil in GST refund claims.
Khairy arrived at the Sentul police headquarters at 2pm on Thursday (Aug 9). He lodged the report before making his way to see the investigation officer.
MP @RembauP131, YB @Khairykj di IPD Sentul membuat laporan polis utk membolehkan siasatan terbuka dibuat berhubung dakwaan @guanenglim Kerajaan BN telah ‘merompak’ bayaran balik GST. pic.twitter.com/vBjqAiHJUR — Ibdilillah Ishak (@ibdil) August 9, 2018
Speaking briefly to reporters after leaving the building at around 3.10pm, Khairy said he lodged the report so that the police would investigate the matter.
"He (Lim) alleged that the previous government had robbed RM18bil in GST refunds.
"This implies that a crime has been committed and when I asked the Finance Minister if any action would be taken, he said an internal investigation would be carried out.
"I don't think that is sufficient which is why I lodged a report with the police today.
"I will lodge a report with the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) tomorrow (Aug 10)," Khairy said.
He is expected to give a press conference at the Parliament building lobby later.
Earlier, in a series of tweets, Khairy said he wanted an open investigation over Lim's claims that RM18bil of GST tax refunds had been "robbed", and for any guilty party to be brought to "justice".
To "nudge" this probe along, the former Youth and Sports Minister said he will lodge reports with the police and the MACC.
On Wednesday (Aug 8), Lim claimed some RM18bil of the RM19.4bil input tax credit (refunds) under the GST system since 2015 had been "robbed" by the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
Khairy said, “I do not think an internal inquiry by @MOFmalaysia is sufficient when a serious allegation of misappropriation or 'rompakan' (robbery) has been made."
Related story:
Khairy wants open probe over Guan Eng's claim that RM18bil of GST refunds 'robbed'
PETALING JAYA: Khairy Jamaluddin wants an open investigation over Lim Guan Eng’s claims that RM18bil of GST tax refunds had been "robbed" and for any guilty parties to be brought to "justice".
To "nudge" this probe along, he said he will lodge reports with the police and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).
“This is so that an open investigation can take place to ascertain the veracity of @guanenglim’s expose,” the former Youth and Sports Minister said in a series of tweets on Thursday (Aug 9).
The Rembau MP said that he will lodge the report on Thursday and Friday (Aug 9 and 10) against former top officials from the Ministry of Finance at the time the allegations took place.
Lim who is Finance Minister had on Wednesday (Aug 8) claimed that the previous government has not been able to refund companies their tax credits from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) because 93% of the money was not placed in the trust account.
He claimed some RM18bil of the RM19.4bil input tax credit (refunds) under the GST system since 2015 had been "robbed" by the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
Khairy said, “I do not think an internal inquiry by @MOFmalaysia is sufficient when a serious allegation of misappropriation or “rompakan” (robbery) has been made.
"Since @guanenglim is not keen on anything beyond an internal inquiry for now, I would like to nudge this along in the public’s interest.
“If true, bring those responsible to justice. As a former minister, such a misappropriation, if true, must be investigated thoroughly & openly,” he added.
Khairy said he had asked several questions on the delay in the RM19bil of refunds: how many were because of non-compliance with GST regulations, how many the subject of ongoing customs audits and how many were unpaid because of misappropriation.
“After waffling for a bit about the missing amounts being 'certified', the Finance Minister finally admitted he did not have a detailed breakdown of why input tax claims were not paid,” said Khairy.
He added that the allegation of misappropriation was serious and should not just be made by way of a speech in Parliament but must be subject to a full and transparent investigation that can bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Today, I would like to once again call for this matter to be investigated and substantiated beyond the Minister’s speech in parliament which was devoid of a detailed breakdown of the unpaid claims."
