FORMER minister Rafidah Aziz has reminded the new government under Ismail Sabri Yaakob to be responsible when managing the country’s finances and to account for every ringgit spent from public coffers.

“It is hoped the so called ‘new’ government will show that responsibility and integrity, in running our country and not continue to do things that will ultimately ruin our country,” she said in a Facebook post.

“There is only that thin line between running the country and ruining it,” the former minister of international trade and industry added. 

Rafidah said the people have a right to expect accountability as individuals and businesses contribute to public funds through payment of taxes, fees, and duties. 

“The rakyat have the right to expect the government to be judicious and careful about using public funds at every and all levels of administration to ensure that every expenditure will benefit the rakyat, whether directly or indirectly,” she said.

Rafidah said the government must be transparent with its bookkeeping for the scrutiny of the Public Accounts Committee and Parliament. 

The former veteran Umno politician said no expenditure must be unnecessary, frivolous, or spent on “ego-boosting events” and programmes.

“No one will question the use of anybody’s grandfather’s money, or one’s inheritance, or money earned honestly… but the rakyat will always question how the government spends their (the rakyat’s) money,” she said.

She cited the previous government’s move of using the Covid-19 pandemic as a “excuse” to not table its expenditure bills in Parliament as an example of “bad and irresponsible management and governance”, adding that the public have not been made aware of the money spent by the government until it is too late.

“The rakyat only gets to know about the millions, hundreds of millions, and the tens of billions already spent!

“It is bad and irresponsible management and governance, when the books are not open to scrutiny,” she said.  – August 24, 2021.