It is regrettable that the recent Auditor-General’s Report reveals that some government departments and agencies have grossly mismanaged public money by adopting questionable procurement practices. This has resulted in huge financial losses for all Malaysians.
I urge Prime Minister Najib Razak to immediately suspend those officials who are responsible for the losses, pending investigation. This will send a strong signal to the culprits and help to solve the corrupt practices that have continued to plague our country. To prove Najib’s determination for economic transformation, open tenders for government contracts should be implemented.
I am extremely disappointed and sad that the hard-earned money of the tax-paying Malaysians has been squandered by these irresponsible officials. The public are outraged to learn that these officials involved in procurement fraud paid between 100 to 1000 percent more than the market price when they procured goods and services for their departments.
Hardworking and honest Malaysians are forced to watch this scenario replay every year. The saddest part is, no action is taken against those officials who are responsible for the losses.
Two years ago, the Auditor-General revealed that Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara in Pulau Pinang spent RM84,640 to buy two laptops. Though this caused public anger, no action was taken by the government. Sadly, nothing has changed since then.
I urge Najib to honour the promises in his economic and government transformation programmes, by suspending those officials who are responsible for the losses as a result of procurement fraud and corrupt practices as indicated in the 2010 Auditor-General’s Report.
Both Public Service Department and Anti-Corruption Commission should investigate these cases immediately. Of course, this depends on our Federal Government’s determination to stop the cancer of corruption from destroying our country.
To prove the government’s determination to reform, the only credible route is to implement open tenders for government contracts, setting the foundation for a just and clean bureaucracy.
YB Hee Loy Sian is Member of Parliament, Petaling Jaya Selatan
CJMY
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