Previously, he said, government accounts were closed on Nov 15 – a month and a half before the end of the financial year.
Lim, who is Bagan MP, said he had been told that accounts were closed earlier to ensure that they keep within the deficit budget.
“If this continues, the government will run out of funds,” he said at a press conference here.
“This is an unprofessional method of cutting down,” he added. “It means the whole government grinds to a halt.
“The government cannot stop functioning after Nov 15. How can the government stop functioning for a month and a half?”
He said the government had since decided that accounts would be closed on Dec 21 instead, consistent with international standards and good financial management.
On the implications of carrying out such a move, Lim said for starters, the government must have the money to do so.
This came after he presented a mock cheque for RM25 million to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa for sekolah pondok and sekolah agama rakyat.
He said the funds were being given in a lump sum early this year, a departure from the previous practice of disbursing them in stages throughout the year.
“I feel that the funds should be given out early so that Mujahid can make early and more organised arrangements, to enable the allocations to reach the schools as soon as possible,” he added.
“That is why we are using a new mechanism.”
On a separate matter, Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) stand against political appointees in government-linked companies (GLCs) was clear.
“Our rule is this: no political appointees in GLCs. But in regulatory bodies, it is okay.
“There is a difference between GLCs and regulatory bodies unless there are very special circumstances,” he said when asked to comment on PH’s recent political appointments to GLCs.
“I need to check whether the appointments were to GLCs or regulatory bodies,” he added.
After winning the general election last year, PH removed many political appointees from the previous Barisan Nasional administration, while others left of their own accord.
Since then, PH has made several such appointments including National Higher Education Fund Corporation chairman Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PPBM), Mara Corporation chairman Akhramsyah Sanusi (PPBM), and National Kenaf and Tobacco Board chairman Wan Rahim Wan Abdullah (Amanah).