Najib hits back at Guan Eng again over RM18 billion 'missing' GST refunds

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 11 Aug 2018 7:10PM · 10 Comments

Former prime minister Najib Razak has again hit back at Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng over the 'missing' RM18 billion in GST refunds, saying the request for the refunds would have been handled by the new government. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 11, 2018.

THE Pakatan Harapan government would have been responsible for handling goods and services tax (GST) refunds involving the “missing RM18 billion” after it took over Putrajaya, said former prime minister Najib Razak.

In another salvo at Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng over the money meant for GST refunds, Najib questioned how much of the shortfall involved new claims after the PH government zero-rated GST in June.

“Barisan Nasional lost power on May 9, which means the request to channel funds to the trust account (for GST refunds) for April and May would have been dealt with under the PH administration.

“Claims (for GST refunds) made after the general election for April and May could have involved large sums because the tax was zero-rated the following month (in June),” Najib, who also held the finance minister post in the previous government, said on his Facebook page.

His statement followed a rebuttal by Lim this afternoon, who slammed Najib for accusing the PH government of using up the shortfall of RM18 billion meant for refunding businesses.

Lim said the shortfall had been the amount for refunds over period of three years, up to the end of May. Since PH only formed the government with the swearing in of the new prime minister on May 10, it could not have used the money in three weeks, Lim had said.

But Najib said PH could have used the money, taken from the consolidated fund, over the last three months to fund government expenses.

“Guan Eng’s answer is nonsensical. Why did the Finance Ministry take three months to realise that there are arrears of RM18 billion and then claim it was stolen? RM18 billion is not a small figure.

“As I see it, PH didn’t expect an increase in refund claims after they zero-rated the GST.

“With no more revenue from GST, they may have used the money for the government’s monthly expenditure,” Najib said.

He predicted that the government would not be able to come up with enough funds to make the refund payouts now that it had scrapped GST and replaced it with the sales and services tax (SST), which was expected to collect a smaller amount of revenue.

Najib said this could prevent the government from achieving a fiscal deficit target of 2.8% of GDP and drive away investors. – August 11, 2018.

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Comments

  • This idiot is trying his best to deflect blame from himself by raising silly questions. When was LGE sworn in as the Finance Minister ?? Who was the caretaker govt and caretaker PM before that???

    Posted 7 years ago by The Rover · Reply

  • Najis..... you are so damn stupid ! Zero rated GST meant no GST paid so no Zero refunds ! Bodoh !

    Posted 7 years ago by Barry Boey · Reply

  • Najis..... you are so damn stupid ! Zero rated GST meant no GST paid so no Zero refunds ! Bodoh !

    Posted 7 years ago by Barry Boey · Reply

  • Wasting time arguing with a KLEPTOCRAT.

    Posted 7 years ago by CHEE Meng Ng · Reply

  • Najis Zero Rated GST means no more collecting GST from june onwards A kindergarden child also know tis U 65 yrs old dont know is it (Saya Tak Tahu) Najis pls wake up be yourself

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • Why not reply in Parliament instead of getting some prepared statement on Facebook?

    Posted 7 years ago by Geoff Kow · Reply

  • Najib may have a point in his argument. Instead of further mudslinging better to investigate properly now that police & MACC reports have been made on the matter to ascertain the whereabouts of the "missing" money..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • LGE is basically calling you a liar and a thief. And all you could do is post replies on FB? Why dont you sue LGE next Tuesday? Btw, you still havent replied LGE on Arul salary pre-1MDB.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • Attempts may also be made to make Najib look bad?..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • Does he ever look good?

      Posted 7 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply