There is basis for sharp increase in govt debt : Auditor General

The federal government debt in 2021 stood at RM979.81 billion, an increase of RM100 billion from RM879.56 billion in the previous year, giving a ratio to gross domestic product (GDP) of 63.4 %.

2021年的联邦政府债务为9798.1亿令吉，比上一年的8795.6亿令吉增加了1000亿令吉，占国内生产总值（GDP）的比率为63.4%。

Auditor-General Datuk Seri Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid said the sharp increase, however, was seen to have a basis as part of the borrowings was used to finance activities to deal with Covid-19 and revive the economy.

审计长Datuk Seri Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid表示，然而，这种急剧增长被认为是有基础的，因为部分借款被用来为应对Covid-19和振兴经济的活动提供资金。

“We understand that. The only thing we are worried about is that this high debt increase cannot continue; this should only be a short-term measure.

“我们理解这一点。我们唯一担心的是，这种高额的债务增长无法继续下去。这应该只是一个短期措施。

“In our opinion, the government needs to make this a temporary measure and take corrective action so that this matter will be more manageable.”

 “在我们看来，政府需要将此作为一项临时措施，并采取纠正措施，使此事更易于管理。a

He said this in a press conference after holding a briefing on the Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) on the Federal Government’s Financial Statement 2021 to the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament on 6th October. Also present were PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh and its members.

他在10月6日向议会公共账目委员会就联邦政府2021年财务报表的审计长报告（LKAN）举行简报后，在新闻发布会上说了这一点。PAC主席黄家禾及其成员也出席了会议。PAC主席Wong Kah Woh及其成员也出席了会议。

Wong said the increase in debt also caused the total liabilities of the federal government in 2021 to amount to RM1.298 trillion or 84 % to GDP.

Wong说，债务的增加也导致联邦政府在2021年的总负债达到1.298万亿令吉，占GDP的84%。

He said that even though the government’s financial statement for 2021 was given the Auditor General’s Certificate without reprimands, there were matters emphasised by the Auditor General that needed to be given attention.

他说，尽管政府的2021年财务报表在没有受到谴责的情况下获得了审计长证书，但审计长强调的事项需要引起注意。

“Among the matters emphasised are the repayment of matured loans using new borrowings, the reduction of the percentage of development expenditure, the increase of federal debt and different recognition from the revenue recognition principle in modified cash basis accounting,” he said.

“强调的事项包括使用新借款偿还到期贷款，降低发展支出百分比，增加联邦债务以及与修改后的现金基础会计中的收入确认原则不同，”他说。

Wong said the gross borrowings last year amounted to RM217.201 billion, an increase of 11.6 % compared to RM194.55 billion in 2020, of which 52.4 % or RM113.764 billion was utilised for principal repayments.

Wong说，去年的总借款额为2172.01亿令吉，较2020年的1945.5亿令吉增加11.6%，其中52.4%或1137.64亿令吉用于偿还本金。

In addition, a sum of RM62.317 billion or 28.7 % of the gross borrowings was transferred to the Development Fund, while RM38 billion or 17.5 % was transferred to the Covid-19 Fund.

此外，623.17亿令吉或总借款的28.7%被转移到发展基金，而380亿令吉或17.5%被转移到Covid-19基金。

 “Of the RM62.317 billion transferred to the Development Fund, RM40.994 billion was used for development expenditure, compared to RM37.53 billion in 2020.

“在转移给发展基金的623.17亿令吉中，409.94亿令吉用于发展支出，而2020年为375.3亿令吉。

“A total of RM12.612 billion was utilised for financing Private Finance Initiatives Liabilities and commitments on guarantees, while RM8.711 billion of development expenditure was a reclassification from operating expenditures,” he said.

 “总共有126.12亿令吉用于资助私人融资计划负债和担保承诺，而87.11亿令吉的发展支出是从运营支出中重新分类的，”他说。

Regarding payment on interest, Wong said 16.3 % of revenue collection was used for that purpose.

关于利息支付，Wong说，16.3%的税收用于此目的。

“This means that for every RM1 collected, 16 sen is used for loan interest payments,” he said.

“这意味着每收取RM1，就有16仙用于支付贷款利息，”他说。

In this regard, Wong said the PAC would continue to play a check and balance role against the Executive branch in financial and procurement management so as to ensure that it complies with the stipulated procedures in the Parliamentary Democracy with Constitutional Monarchy system in this country.

对此，Wong表示，PAC将继续在财务和采购管理方面对行政部门发挥制衡作用，以确保其符合该国议会民主制和君主立宪制的规定程序。