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Published: Friday October 30, 2009 MYT 6:11:00 PM

Special task-force to follow up on A-G’s report


PUTRAJAYA: The Government has set up a task force to be headed by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan to study the 2008 Auditor-General’s report and take action against those responsible for the financial irregularities revealed therein, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said at a press conference at his office here on Friday.

The other members of the task force will be Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah and Public Services Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam.

“If there’s a need, we will also call in the Attorney-General and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC),” said Najib, who is also the Finance Minister.

“We will have to look into the findings of the report, especially those involving the abuse of power and misappropriation and determine what action should to be taken against those involved.

“I want to state that the reason for setting up the task force is not to launch a witchhunt but to identify those who have intentionally and openly committed such offences -- they should not get away without any action taken against them,” Najib said.

However, he stressed that the findings by the task force would not necessarily lead to legal action.

“Administrative action such as demotions, freezing promotions or transfers can also be meted out,” he said.

The Auditor-General’s Report for 2008, which was tabled in Parliament on Oct 19, revealed that the lack of oversight by various ministries and departments in the procurement of goods and services cost the Government hundreds of millions of ringgit.

These range from multi-billion ringgit infrastructure projects to the procurement of laptops and maintenance of government assets.

For example, Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in Penang paid RM84,640 for two laptop computers and spent RM2.08mil on computer software that was not used, among other things.

The Perak government spent over RM15mil on new cars and maintenance over the past four years and was still not able to manage its vehicles properly.

Weaknesses revealed in the report included the Finance Ministry’s public infrastructure maintenance programme, basic infrastructure programme and parliamentary constituency rural development projects involving RM4.59bil for 92,687 projects from 2005 to November 2008 that were still not satisfactorily implemented.

It said there were delays in project completion, work not done in accordance with the original scope of works, increased project costs due to the inclusion of procurement of equipment and assets in the scope of works, unutilised facilities upon completion, improper payments made for works not done and shortage of officers in project supervision.

The MACC has also set up a special team to investigate government agencies and departments based on the Auditor-General’s report.

More to come

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RM42,320 for a laptop
PM disappointed with mismanagement of funds

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