A group of DAP MPs had previously lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) calling for a thorough and independent investigation into an alleged RM2.1 billion spending discrepancy involving Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW).
The report, filed at the Kuala Lumpur MACC office, also called for an investigation into Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Akmal Saleh claims RM2.1 billion was an approved additional allocation
Following the report, UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh shared his take on the matter, questioning the alleged spending discrepancy involving KKDW.
His remarks came after former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng filed a report with MACC over the alleged RM2.1 billion discrepancy.
Taking to Facebook, Akmal claimed that the RM2.1 billion in question was actually an additional allocation that had been adjusted and approved by the Ministry of Finance for KKDW.
He explained that KKDW acts as the coordinating ministry responsible for implementing the approved allocation.
“The real question that needs to be answered is: the project had received approval from the Ministry of Finance, and a Letter of Acceptance (SST) had been issued, so why was the approved allocation not channelled to KKDW to allow payments to be made to the contractors?
“For the information of MPs, under the government’s financial procedures, a ministry cannot simply spend money without the appropriate allocation and approval from the relevant financial authorities,” his post read.
“It’s unfortunate that M’sia has an MP who doesn’t understand the country’s financial procedures”
Akmal also stressed that if there were indeed any issues or misconduct involved, an investigation should be carried out and the facts should be made public.
He questioned why a former Finance Minister would file a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the matter, while also stressing that it was important to establish who approved the allocation, who issued the SST, who was responsible for channelling the funds, and at which stage the process came to a halt.
Akmal said KKDW should not ultimately be questioned over funds that had been approved but never reached the ministry for payment. He also questioned how the country’s finances could have been managed in such a “chaotic” manner if the former Finance Minister himself did not understand the financial procedures under his administration.
“It’s unfortunate that the country has an MP who still does not understand the country’s financial procedures,” he said.
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