Chief Secretary to the Government promises action against those implicated in AG’s report
Government officers and staff investigated for corruption and mismanagement of public funds under the 2006 Auditor-General’s (AG) report will either be charged in court soon or face disciplinary action.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, told a media briefing yesterday that the Government would use a three-pronged approach to rectify problems highlighted under the AG’s report.
“If it involves corruption and there is clear evidence, the ACA will charge those responsible, and you can expect this to happen very soon.
“If there are clear abuses but the case lacks evidence, disciplinary action will be taken against them,” he said.
The disciplinary action could be in the form of demotions and dismissals.
Mohd Sidek said the Government would also make public the type of disciplinary action taken against civil servants for various offences, other than the impending action against those implicated over the AG’s report.
He said the Public Service Department would come out with a “demotion and disciplined” list every quarter so that the people would know that action had been taken.
“We have acted against many officers and staff members. Even directors-general, secretaries-general and super scale A officers have been demoted or moved out or opted for early retirement.
“If they don’t want to perform, they will be encouraged to leave the service.
“At the same time, the Government has been rewarding hardworking and honest officers,” he said.
The AG’s report highlighted the National Youth Skills Institute (under the Youth and Sports Ministry) project where a car jack that cost RM50 was bought for RM5,700, a digital camera that cost RM2,990 was bought for RM8,254 and RM1,146 was paid for a set of technical pens with a market price of RM160.
The ministry was alleged to have spent RM8.39mil on equipment for its National Youth Skills Institutes.
The others include the purchase of two helicopters worth RM117.75 million by the police air wing, which could not be used, as they did not meet specifications. Another RM15.4mil was spent to train pilots to fly these helicopters.
The Customs Department meanwhile under-utilised its RM290mil information technology system but was planning to spend another RM451.30mil to develop a new one.
It is learnt the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has completed its investigations into the abuses highlighted by the AG.
ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan is said to have briefed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Sidek on the matter.
Mohd Sidek added that the Government had also directed the departments and ministries to reply to the points highlighted by the AG and their answer “had better be credible.”
Source: The Star
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