Make public action taken on audit report, urges group

Actions taken against those involved in misconduct and fraud in government financial governance as divulged by the Auditor-General's Report should be disseminated as a basis to plug the weaknesses.

Malaysian Institute of Integrity president Mohd Tap Salleh (left) said although there was no provision to publicise such actions, it would be pertinent to publicise them as similar mistakes and mismanagement kept recurring year after year.

"Some agencies have taken actions against wrongdoers, but they were not made public.

"These actions are justified, apart from the decision made by the chief secretary to the government Dr Ali Hamsa to set up a special committee to scrutinise the Auditor-General's Report 2012 to address the issues raised and identify those responsible," Mohd Tap told reporters attending a forum on integrity enhancement in Kuching today.

Mohd Tap said most of the issues raised in the Auditor-General's Report were not driven by fraud and corruption but rather lack of competency and commitment on the part of government officers authorised to carry out the transactions.

In his speech, he said as the mismanagement, wastage and loss to government coffers had become a yearly affair, a concerted action needed to be carried out to raise the competency and commitment of government officers as well as enforcing a monitoring process on the expenditure by top officers.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Sutinah Sutan said the MACC would also check whether there were weaknesses in the purchasing and transaction system and procedures which could lead to corrupt practices.

"If there were, MACC will present a report to the agencies concerned to tighten the loopholes to rid corrupt practices," she said.

- Bernama