KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition today questioned the impartiality of Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof after the speaker acknowledged that his son is the press secretary of Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Opposition leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob had asked Ariff if his son was working with Lim, to which the speaker said yes.“My son is 31 or 32 now, and he is free to work anywhere. More importantly, I act freely and uninfluenced in this house.” Ismail then asked Ariff if this was not considered a conflict of interest, and whether his son’s job was related to the lack of action against Lim over his remarks on the goods and services tax refunds last year.
Lim had accused the previous Barisan Nasional government of misusing RM19.4 billion meant for GST refunds. The Public Accounts Committee said earlier this week that no money was missing although a violation had been made of the Goods and Services Tax Act 2014 where the money was transferred into a Consolidated Revenue Account instead of the GST Refund Account.