Editor’s Note: Non-compliance in financial management has resulted in losses in public funds totalling RM158.08 mil, according to findings of the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report.
Interestingly, there are still 689 issues highlighted in previous Auditor-General’s reports that have not been resolved with some dating as far back as 2016, according to auditor-general Datuk Seri Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid (main pic).
Between 2011 and 2021, a total of 10,910 issues at federal and state levels have been highlighted, of which 10,221 issues of 93.7% had been settled.
Among the yet-to-be resolved issues involve compensation for the Penang Second Bridge and another pertaining to compensation involving KLIA2. Nik Azman said no deadline had been given for issues to be settled as some issues were complicated and involved many parties.
THE multi-million ringgit waste and loss of public money highlighted in the Auditor-General’s Report is disappointing.
We have reached a stage where each year we hear the same old story: that of mounting waste and losses by many of those tasked with the responsibility of adhering to standard operating procedures in the management of the country’s wealth.
Each year, we have taken the Auditor-General’s Report for granted. And we hear the same old responses: “we will investigate” or “we are looking into it”.
The people can do nothing but laugh out loud – without much hope of seeing any serious action taken on any of these reports.
The millions – even billions – of ringgit in losses would certainly have gone a long way in easing the people’s hardships. It could have fed, clothed and provided shelter for the growing number of homeless people.
Why do we have to live with such a poor sense of accountability? Why do we allow such failures to recur year in and year out?
Will the new government be able to eradicate this disgrace for good? Will it fare better than the previous government?
Do we dare hope that department heads with the responsibility of ensuring that allocations are spent in line with set procedure will be held accountable, as is the practice in the private sector?
Will they be punished if they are found to have been negligent in managing public funds?
The Auditor-General’s Report is a benchmark of the actual efficiency of the civil service. When billions of ringgit is missing or wasted, then it can only mean that the civil service is a failure.
While ordinary people are always expected to live up to their civil responsibilities, the many Auditor-General’s Reports published over the years reveal to us the absolute irresponsibility of many segments of government.
It is time to sack all those responsible for these failures. – Feb 22, 2023
An ALIRAN member, JD Lovrenciear is a Kuala Lumpur-based writer, trainer and consultant who also offers his time to support initiatives to build a progressive society.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
