KUALA LUMPUR: An Opposition MP wants to cite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim before the parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee for allegedly misleading the Dewan Rakyat over his remarks that some RM10bil worth of diesel subsidy was misappropriated last year.
Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) said he had submitted a letter to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker on Tuesday (March 14) to refer Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, to the panel over the matter.
"This is following his speech during the tabling of Budget 2023 on Feb 24 that contains statements that may mislead the Dewan and can be seen as insulting the Parliament," he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (March 15).
Last month, Anwar had pointed out during the tabling of Budget 2023 that the government had lost almost RM10bil in the implementation of the diesel subsidy.
The Prime Minister said in addition to the leakages in diesel subsidies, there were others amounting to RM3bil in wastage, loss of public funds and inefficient payments as revealed by the Auditor-General's Reports in 2020 and 2021.
Rosol said based on the record given by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, between 2018 and 2022, it managed to seize a total of RM18.7mil worth of diesel subsidy.
"Secondly, based on a separate reply given by the ministry, they are only starting to form a task force to determine the validity of claims related to the RM10bil leakages.
"Thirdly, in another answer given by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister the day after the tabling of Budget 2023, the ministry was only starting to collect data (on the issue).
"Clearly, there are some contradictions with the data given by the ministry and the remarks made by Tambun (Anwar, the MP)," he said, adding that this was the reason why he wanted to refer Anwar to the committee.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor said the issue was a serious matter and would be raised with the Speaker
"Although I am chairing the meeting now, to coordinate any decisions of the Dewan, we will refer the matter to the Speaker first for a decision to be made," he said.
RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) stood up to question why the matter was not raised when Anwar was tabling the Budget.
"Any form of objection should be raised on the same day Anwar had given his wrap-up for the Finance Ministry on Budget 2023.
"But none on the other side was there to raise it," he said.
The Deputy Speaker said all the points raised by both MPs had been recorded in the Hansard.
"I believe the Speaker will make a decision on it. Please wait for it," Ramli said.
