by Lim Guan Eng

Malaysians have more confidence that Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang was telling the truth and that Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former youth and sports minister(presently the Minister of Communication and Multimedia)  Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek was lying. Both UMNO Minsters should apologise to all Malaysians after Tan Sri Ambrin Buang exposed their lies that RM1.6 million to bring in K-Pop groups was fully sponsored and that the police had explained the missing  RM1.3 million of equipment including guns to Audit Department.

Ambrin stressed there was no reply from the police on the issue of the missing items, which included 44 firearms, 29 vehicles, 26 walkie-talkies, 22 radios and other equipment worth RM1.3 million. So far the public has been informed by the Inspector General of Police and Home Minister that the missing guns were likely to have fallen into the sea, even though there were no such police reports made of the missing guns. Have the 29 missing police vehicles also fallen into the sea?  

How can Ahmad Shabery openly lie that the private sector had sponsored the RM1.6 million paid by the Youth and Sports Ministry to bring three K-pop groups for the World Youth Day celebrations here when Tan Sri Ambrin said the ministry’s officials did not challenge the fact that the money came from government allocations? Clearly both Ministers should immediately apologise or else Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should take action if he wants to retain any remaining public trust that his Ministers are honest, competent and professional.

The failings and financial wrongdoings exposed in the 2012 Auditor-General’s(AG) Report highlights the criminal breach of compliance in 5 key principles required in managing public funds namely, on the need for public accountability, transparency, value for money, open and fair competition as well as fair dealings. These failings and financial wrongdoings in government works is critical for Malaysia’s economy because the annual procurement of goods, works and services comes to 25% of the nominal Gross Deomestic Product(GDP)compared to other developed economies whose annual procurements is only 12% of the GDP.

These excesses, wastage and financial wrongdoings have a negative impact on the economy’s growth rate. In other words, Malaysia is losing twice more than developed nations for any corruption or wastage of public funds. BN leaders should not be in a state of denial but address the weaknesses identified in the Auditor-General’s Report which are:-

·        Inadequate procurement planning and poor drafting of specifications;

·        Insufficient use of open competitive tendering;

·        Failure to disclose budget ceiling; and

·        Lack of monitoring and evaluation.