MP accuses Anwar of misleading Dewan on diesel subsidy leakages

MP accuses Anwar of misleading Dewan on diesel subsidy leakages

Rosol Wahid wants the prime minister referred to the Dewan Rakyat’s rights and privileges committee.

PN MP Rosol Wahid questioned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over his figures after Anwar said Malaysia lost RM10 billion a year from leakages of subsidised diesel.  (Facebook pic)
KUALA LUMPUR:
An opposition MP wants Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to be referred to the Dewan Rakyat’s rights and privileges committee for allegedly misleading the House on the leakage of subsidised diesel.

Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) pointed out that Anwar had said that Malaysia lost RM10 billion a year from leakages of subsidised diesel when tabling the Supply Bill 2023.

However, Rosol said, data from the domestic trade and cost of living ministry showed that only RM18.7 million worth of smuggled diesel had been confiscated by the authorities from 2018 to 2022.

He questioned Anwar over his figures, claiming that domestic trade and cost of living minister Salahuddin Ayub recently said the ministry had only just started to gather the data on the issue.

“I would like the House to refer this matter to the rights and privileges committee,” he said.

In February, Salahuddin had said a special task force would be formed to resolve the diesel subsidy leakages, adding that his ministry will “re-examine the data” involved.

Rosol filed the motion under Clause 36(12) of the Dewan Rakyat’s Standing Orders, which states that any MP who imputes statements that mislead the House is deemed to be in contempt of the House, and may be referred to the rights and privileges committee.

Deputy speaker Ramli Nor said he will let Speaker Johari Abdul decide on the motion.

RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) then asked Rosol why he was not present in the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday to raise the question when Anwar delivered his winding-up speech on the bill.

“I remember that many opposition MPs were absent. So, why raise this issue now?” said Rayer.

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