Assembly Approves 2010 Gov’t Spending

Following a three-hour debate at the National Assembly, lawmakers passed a draft law approving the $2.5 billion the government spent in 2010. During the debate, CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap presented a 10-page document that he said justified the $2.5 billion in spending, which was 25 percent more than was ear-marked in the 2010 budget of $2 billion. Opposition lawmakers and observers criticized the draft law, which was voted for by 84 of the 99 lawmakers present, claiming that there were omissions and a lack of clarity. … Mr. Yeap, who is also the chairman of the assembly’s Finance and Banking Commission, defended government spending, saying that the government had access to a comprehensive audit report from the Ministry of Finance and Economy. He added that the audit report, which was not provided to the assembly, gave more detail than the 10-page draft law. “We have an audit report, a description from the government, which the Ministry of Finance and Economy has informed us already of the types of revenue and spending,” he said. …