SABAH Umno has hit out at the Warisan-led government for giving a false impression on the financial health of the state government after taking power from Barisan Nasional (BN).

State liaison chief Hajiji Mohd Noor said the auditor-general’s 2017 report clearly disputes the claim that funds were mismanaged during BN’s era.

He also said the report also vindicates former chief minister Musa Aman, who was also the finance minister then.

“The AG’s Report comes as no surprise. It is a continuation of similar reports for the last 15 years under the tenure of Musa as Sabah finance minister.

“It is not too far-fetched to even say that he was one of the best financial manager Sabah has ever had.

“He managed to present a surplus budget for 2018 despite the dismal prices of oil back then and surplus accounts for 16 years in a row,” he said.

Warisan, in the wake of taking over the state government, had claimed that state finances were in dire straits.

“Sadly, this alleged lack of funds is the old song and dance that they keep using as an excuse to not deliver to the people.

“The numbers shown in the AG’s Report, however, speaks otherwise.

“Briefly, the state consolidated fund under Musa rose last year, there was surplus resulting in the accumulated balance rising, revenue collection increased, and operating expenditure rose,” he said.

Under the auditor-general’s report, investments in fixed and state deposits topped RM2.51 billion and investments in public corporation and statutory bodies totalled RM6.58 billion.

The two investments brought in RM112.67 million and RM140.43 million in interests and dividends.

In spite of this achievement, the Warisan-led government continues to mislead the people on Musa’s performance as chief minister and finance minister for the last 15 years, said Hajiji.

“The report proves that the state government has contradicted itself when presenting the Sabah Budget 2019 recently.

“Since helming the office, the Warisan government have committed numerous flip flops on Sabah’s financial position.

“Such actions on Warisan’s part is a display of not only incompetence but malice in an attempt to belittle the achievements of the previous state government,” he said. – December 5, 2018.