THE opposition accused Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng of confusing and insulting Dewan Rakyat members when he said the Kelantan government could not pay its civil servants. 

Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Baru) said Lim should retract the statement as it is an insult to all state governments that have borrowed funds from the federal government. 

“In standing order 36(12), it is clear that (the statement) had confused the dewan and insulted its members. 

“Therefore, we, as the opposition members, urge the finance minister to retract his statement, as provided in the standing order,” he said at the Parliament lobby today.

Also present at the press conference were Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak), Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) and Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS-Kubang Kerian).

Earlier, during the question-and-answer session, Takiyuddin asked a supplementary question if the Kelantan and Terengganu state governments can take over the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project if the federal government decides to stop it. 

Lim replied he will wait for an official letter if the states are interested in doing so. He, however, questioned the ability for Kelantan to take over the project as the state does not even have enough funds to pay the wages of its civil servants. 

This caused a stir in the Dewan Rakyat and other opposition members defended Takiyuddin, such as Noh Omar (BN-Tanjong Karang) and Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (BN-Machang).

“Any state government would lack funds and ask for funds from the federal government. That is normal. 

“There is no such state that does not borrow (money) from the federal government. 

“We feel that the remark made by the finance minister had insulted state governments,” added Takiyuddin. 

He added that Lim should apologise either in the dewan or outside. 

The opposition might draft a motion for Lim to be referred to the rights and privileges committee for disciplinary action, he said. – October 22, 2018.