Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng today shot back at an Umno leader over remarks linked to a gaming company’s sponsorship of a police working trip overseas, saying it was approved by the Barisan Nasional government.
This comes after Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Da Ma Cai’s sponsorship of a delegation to Turkey led by inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun was insensitive to Muslims.
“We need to remind him, that while he is pointing one finger at (me), he has four fingers pointing at himself,” Lim told reporters today at a Chinese New Year event with Customs officers.
“I understand that the board of directors, when they approved this, it was in 2017. I believe he (Asyraf) was then the deputy minister,” he said.
Asyraf was the deputy minister in charge of Islamic affairs in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Lim accused Asyraf of whipping up “dangerous sentiments” and narrow politics.
“As I am not a Muslim, I want to tell him this. If he wants to make accusations, he needs to look into the mirror first,” said Lim.
It was reported that the delegation was in Turkey to learn about policing online gambling.
Whistleblower site Sarawak Report had published pictures of Fuzi and senior police officers on their trip, saying over RM300,000 was spent on business class flights and five-star hotel accommodation.
Yesterday, Lim said the trip was paid for by Da Ma Cai, after Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said it was approved by the Malaysian Totalisator Board, a body under the Ministry of Finance.
Lim said as per current procedure, the board need not seek the ministry’s approval to make any sponsorship.
“The board did not refer to the Finance Ministry, and I have no knowledge of it. I only found out about this after I read the news,” he said.
Asked if it was normal for the board to sponsor such trips, Lim said there were provisions under the law which allowed such decisions to be made.
“Under the Act they can make such decisions without referring to the Finance Ministry,” he said.
Lim said it was possible many such trips had been sponsored by the board in the past.
“I just want to say this, let’s leave it at that,” said Lim. – FMT
Earlier report: Feb 13, Gaming Company Funded Top Cops’ Anti-Online Gambling Turkey Trip