MoF shows Anwar the money

(The Malaysian Insider) – KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — The Finance Ministry today denied claims that RM1.4 billion went missing from the Treasury’s contingency fund, pointing out that the expenditure had been accounted for in Parliament.

Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said he tabled a supplementary Supply Bill in March or April this year detailing all unplanned expenses which had depleted the fund.

“Either they’ve forgotten, don’t get it, or this is an attempt to skew the facts and mislead the people,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

Awang Adek later passed around copies of Parliament Order Paper 3 2011, which contained an itemised list of expenses paid for via the allocation.

He added the contingency fund was a rolling account that was topped up by RM1.5 billion every year upon ratification of the supplementary Supply Bill.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim alleged yesterday that RM1.4 billion could not be accounted for in the contingency fund.

He said the Auditor-General found just RM79.15 million in the fund while the Federal Expenditure Estimates reported that RM1.5 billion had been allocated for that purpose.

Anwar also suggested that the alleged discrepancy was the reason this year’s national audit report was only tabled weeks after the Budget, unlike previous years.