KUALA LUMPUR: The Finance Ministry did not issue any instructions to seize more than RM1 billion owned by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Ltd (CPP).
Its minister Lim Guan Eng said he and ministry officials did not issue any instruction for the seizure of the monies.
“The ministry and myself (as the minister) did not issue any instructions of the seizure. So, if there is any (seizure), I think you should ask the enforcement agencies,” he told reporters when met at Parliament.
Lim was responding to question on a report by The Straits Times, which said Malaysia had seized more than RM1 billion from CPP.
The Singapore-based newspaper reported that the Malaysian government had ordered HSBC to transfer the funds from CPP to Suria Strategic Energy Resources, wholly owned by Finance Ministry.
Meanwhile, Lim declined to comment on opposition MPs' demand that the minister be referred to the Rights and Privileges committee.
This is over his statement that the Goods and Services (GST) refund money was stolen, prior to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report that was tabled today.
PAC had said the RM19.4 billion did not go missing. However, it said, the money which was supposed to be placed in GST fund was used for the country's administration and development.