Stating that the current state of emergency does not give the government “a free pass” to disregard accountability and transparency, Mohamad, also known as Tok Mat, said any action deemed valid during an emergency must be based on values, morals and principles.
“This is even more crucial when it comes to spending public funds. No matter how complex, complicated and dire a situation is, the government should not be able to escape rigorous scrutiny when spending the people’s money or the nation’s wealth,” he said in a statement.
He said it was far more critical for a government to be vigilant and responsible when spending the nation’s revenue during an emergency.
“The government is still a government for the people, not a military junta. Therefore, it should behave and act as a government for the people.”
A new ordinance was gazetted on Wednesday allowing the prime minister, chief ministers or menteris besar to pass a supplementary budget and tap into consolidated funds without the approval of Parliament or the respective state assemblies.
It came into effect immediately and has been criticised by various parties for the lack of checks and balances on the use of state funds.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram