KUALA LUMPUR: The government has paid 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB) debts totalling RM43.8bil with an unpaid balance of RM9.7bil, involving a principal of RM5bil and RM4.7bil interest, says Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
"To date, the government has paid 1MDB’s debt totalling RM43.8bil.
"The payment was made through shareholders advances which amounted to RM24.5bil and trust account (RM19.3bil),” he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2023 at the committee level for the Finance Ministry in Dewan Rakyat.
He said the government had also recovered RM33.6bil of 1MDB assets and RM8bil from the settlement with Abu Dhabi’s investment firm, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).
According to Ahmad, 1MDB’s principal loan totalled RM33.6bil while the interest amounted to RM14.9bil.
Meanwhile, on the Jana Wibawa project, he said it involves 67 projects under various ministries, among them, the Prime Minister’s Department, Communications and Multimedia Ministry (now known as Communications and Digital Ministry), and Education Ministry estimated to be valued at RM7.13bil.
The Dewan Rakyat later passed the Supply Bill 2023 allocation at the committee level for the Finance Ministry of RM57.3bil through a majority voice vote on Monday (March 13).
The Supply Bill 2023, which is the first Budget under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, was passed at the policy level on March 9 following a six-day debate from Feb 27, 2023 and winding-up by each ministry.
Budget 2023, tabled by Anwar on Feb 24, allocated a total of RM388.1bil comprising RM289.1bil for operating expenditure and RM99bil for development expenditure including RM2bil contingency savings. - Bernama
