Corruption watchdog Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has urged the government to take legal action against the contractors of school e-learning project 1Bestari Net.

Its president Akhbar Satar ( right ) said the Auditor-General's latest report clearly shows service provider YTL Communications Sdn Bhd’s "failure to fulfil contractual obligation".

He added failure to complete the RM633 million project by the June deadline is reason enough for the government to seek legal recourse.

This does not take into account the findings that the supposed high-speed 4G broadband coverage across schools was patchy in 70 percent of schools audited.

The report also showed Internet connection to 4,176 internet users were delayed up to 439 days with no penalties.

Akhbar said that such a mere "slap on the wrist with a meagre fine of RM2.4 million" for allowing such delays should not be allowed.

Pointing out a few other incidences of the mismanagement of funds including the monthly pensions paid to dead army personnel amounting to almost RM12 million, Akhbar believed that it is likely due to poor upkeep of records.

However, he said it was disappointing that these are not isolated incidences, as 'overpayments' were made out in welfare aid to 145 dead people in three states in October last year as stated in the 2012 report.

Akhbar also urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to not only look into the growing number of outstanding cases of possible abuse of funds, but to also investigate and take punitive action against those involved.

Collusion between civil servants

Meanwhile, anti-graft NGO Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) said that the audit report's findings shows collusion between civil servants to commit graft.

This, it said, was exemplified by the fact that RM1.5 million worth of medical supplies and a whopping RM7.95 million worth of medical-related assest were merely listed as 'Asset Not Found'.

Moving forward, C4 urged the following:

- For the auditor-general to publish a score-card which "red marks" offenders and becomes a basis for punitive action;

- Sacking of errant civil servants and punitive action also on director-generals;

- Public Accounts Committee proceedings which are open to be public; and

- An independent public sector ombudsman for good governance to investigation and naming and shaming, to strengthen the auditor-general's work.

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