BN reps refute claims PR states are financially better

Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers today refuted claims by certain quarters who claimed that Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is the most outstanding state leader when it concerns financial management.

The matter was highlighted following reports of the recent 2011 Auditor’s General Report which indicated that Pakatan Rakyat controlled states had positive financial standing compared to other states in the country.

A group of BN members of parliament said based on their research of the AG’s report, they felt there were misleading facts in terms of accounting which had been made by certain quarters.

“From our research, there were a few misleading accounting facts made by certain quarters and not the A-G, “ said Ledan MP Hamim Samuri at the Parliament lobby today.

Hamim claimed that based on a thorough study of the AG’s report, Sarawak is the state with the most outstanding record in terms of financial management.

“In terms of overall financial position, the best is Sarawak and the state succeeded in charting summed up revenue of RM18.4 billion for 2010 and 2011.

“The second is Sabah with RM2.6 billion, followed by Selangor with RM1.9 billion and Penang with RM1.2 billion,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hulu Selangor MP P. Kamalanathan claimed that the Selangor government had also misused funds which were allocated for road maintenance by channelling them to the state-owned university,

Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel).

“Through the A-G’s report, RM5.5 million allocated for road maintenance was given to a company under the Selangor government agency called Pendidikan Industri Y.S Sdn Bhd to bare the cost for a construction project in Unisel,” he said.

“In Hulu Selangor alone there are many roads left unrepaired. When people question the local councils, they say they don’t have enough funds to maintain them.”

Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said despite various negative allegations by the opposition towards Sabah and Sarawak leaders, the A-G’s report still showed that these states were rated well not just in terms of revenue but in terms of budget allocation as well.

“It is unfair to say that leakage (of funds) happens in BN-ruled states as these things also happen in PR-ruled states too,” he added.

Following the release of the AG’s report on Oct 15, many independent news portals had indicated good fiscal management by all four Pakatan Rakyat governed states – Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan with revenues improving.

However, later the A-G’s office in a statement to an online portal denied that the A-G had specifically singled out the Pakatan Rakyat-governed states of having good financial standing.

The A-G’s office also said any other statements as reported in the media or by any individual which are not based on the audit reports are not the concern of the AG's office.