AUDIT REPORT The Auditor-General's Report 2012 for Penang revealed nothing controversial but pointed out weaknesses in several departments.

On public housing in Penang, the report said an audit conducted from May to August last year showed the management was satisfactory but noted some shortcomings.

"The records pertaining to applications for public housing rentals were not maintained properly. Maintenance of public housing was not planned and there were delays in taking action on public complaints on damages.

"Compliance on the terms and conditions of rental agreements was not fully enforced and monitored. Outstanding rental cases were not referred to the legal unit resulting in no enforcement," it said.

On the issue of quit rent collection, based on the audit conducted last year on the land offices in Seberang Perai Utara (North) and Seberang Perai Timur Laut (Northeast), the report cautioned that focus must be given to their inaction in collecting quit rent arrears.

NONE The report also noted that while there was an increase in quit rent arrears, there were also inaccurate quit rent rates as they were not were not updated in the revenue module of ‘e-Tanah', the government's online database.

The state government's public accountability committee, led by state assembly backbencher club chief Wong Hon Wai ( right ), is probing this matter.

On the issuance of halal certificates, while the audit found it was satisfactory in terms of the number of applications and management, there were several weaknesses.

The shortcomings include delays in the issuance of halal certificates and premises issued with them were not monitored and there was limited enforcement.