By Syauqi Jamil
KUALA LUMPUR: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng last night made a shocking claim that the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government have ‘robbed GST (Goods and Services Tax) refunds’.
While replying to BN Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, Lim added that there is currently no more money left in a supposed ‘trust fund’ where refunds for manufacturers are supposed to be deposited.
“It was supposed to be paid back in two weeks but for two years, it was not paid. This is because the advance cash was not put in the ‘amanah account’ but it was out in a consolidated fund as revenue. So because it was revenue, it was used by the government.”
“That’s why when Rembau (Khairy) said ‘merombak’ (revamp) GST, you actually ‘merompak’ (rob) GST. This is a serious robbery where the money that was supposed to be in the ‘amanah account’ wasn’t there.”
“That is why people have not receive their refunds. People were supposed to get their refunds in two weeks but it’s been two years and some people are still waiting,” he said during his second reading winding up speech on the Sales Tax at the Dewan Rakyat.
Lim was initially replying to BN Kepala Batas MP Reezal Merican Naina Merican who had asked Lim to reveal the amount of unpaid GST claims.
The claims had triggered Khairy to ask for the heavy accusations to be backed by proof to which Lim replied by saying that the evidence would be brought up on Wednesday.
“I will prove it. You should know, if you read through the account, you should know as a minister. You have failed. This is the collective responsibility of BN. I will explain tomorrow,” he said last night.