PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has urged his predecessor, Najib Razak, to explain the status of the “missing” RM18 billion in goods and services tax refunds.

After Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng accused the previous Barisan Nasional administration of abusing the refund account, Najib said the new Pakatan Harapan government is looking for a scapegoat, following its failure to return the refunds to businesses.

“That is what Najib says, and that is what Lim says. If it is not (missing), then show us where the money is,” said Dr Mahathir today.

Asked if the PH government had used the money to pay off its bills after wresting Putrajaya from BN on May 9, as claimed by Najib, Dr Mahathir said PH has been short on money since coming into power.

“We are short on money, that is a fact. A lot of the money goes towards servicing loans and trying to retire the loans.

“That’s where the money is going, and also, people expect us to give money to them, a habit stemming from Najib’s era.

“He gave money to people freely, and now, they expect us to give money to them, too, but we don’t have the money. We have not stolen money, like what Najib had done.”

Last week, Lim said the BN administration had “robbed” GST refunds, which were meant to be returned to businesses within two weeks of them submitting their claims, to the tune of RM18 billion.

Subsequently, Rembau MP and former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin lodged a police report on the matter.

Najib also questioned why it took Lim’s ministry three months to discover the “theft”.

He said it is typical of PH to blame BN for everything that goes south, even if it is PH’s fault.

Former Treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, who slammed Lim’s claim as unfounded, lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission a day after Khairy lodged his police report.

Asked whether the cabinet will table a supplementary budget next week, Dr Mahathir said the administration will look into it. – August 12, 2018.