KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 ― The newly-appointed Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Ronald Kiandee today said that he would initiate a probe into claims that RM18 billion from Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds had been “missing”.

“I will use my powers to bring this matter to the PAC,” said the Beluran MP, who is the first Opposition lawmaker to head the committee.

Kiandee said so during a press conference in Parliament today alongside several Barisan Nasional lawmakers who called for thorough investigations on the claims made by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday, in which he said the funds were “robbed” under the previous administration.

Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin had lodged a police report urging an investigation into the matter.

Advertisement

Kiandee said that he would initiate the probe under Standing Order 77(1) A and D of the House.

Khairy, meanwhile, said his police report also called for an investigation on the handling of the funds, including against a former Finance Minister whom he did not name.

“The word robbery is a serious accusation, so an internal investigation by the Ministry of Finance is not enough. There needs to be a criminal probe as well,” he said, adding he had informed his Barisan Nasional colleagues of his police report.

Advertisement

Umno’s Jeli MP Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said that his party does not condone any misappropriation of funds and any perception as such must be dealt with immediately via a thorough investigation.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was the finance minister from September 2008 to May this year. The GST was implemented in 2015.