11 punitive issues identified in 2019 series 1 Auditor General Report

KUALA LUMPUR: Auditor-General Datuk Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid said that there are 11 punitive issues out of 153 issues which have been identified in the Auditor General's Report 2019 Series 1.

However, he said he could not reveal detailed information on the matter because he did not want to interfere with the investigations to be carried out.

"Of the 153 issues, 11 are punitive issues while the other 142 are corrective issues. Only I cannot give an explanation yet. If we mention, those involved may be able to hide information. Normally, we will discuss with the enforcement agencies first those cases which have punitive issues.

"Let's say the issue involves the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) investigation, for example. When we present to the MACC our findings, the MACC will consider whether there is a case or not on their side. If MACC cannot take action, maybe police in terms of commercial crime (can), for example,’’ he told a press conference at the Parliament Building, here, today.

He said apart from action by enforcement agencies, the Public Service Department could also conduct investigations on punitive issues in terms of disciplinary action against civil servants.

Nik Azman said the department would set up a Special Investigation Committee to investigate and if there were any punitive issues action would be taken against those involved.

"On our part, we do conduct a 'follow up' through the Auditor General's Report Action Committee which would monitor or ensure that these issues are taken into account in terms of corrections so that any loss by the government can be minimised," he said.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Wong Kah Woh, who was also present at the press conference, said that throughout this year, five PAC reports were tabled and four of them involved issues raised in the Auditor General's Report while another report was based on public interest.

He said the four reports were the Perlis Malaysia Sports School Project Management; Road Charge Collection System (RC) and Foreign Vehicle Entry Record (VEP) Project; Foreign Worker Control Activities; and Management of Educational Malaysia Global Services (EMGS).

"The PAC report on the Sale of Land Owned by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) involves public interest," he said.

Apart from that, he said the committee also presented three reports on the ministry's follow-up action on the recommendations raised in the PAC report involving claims for arrears of goods and services tax (GST) payment amounting to RM19.4 billion, Khazanah Nasional investment losses and the development of air mobility.

-- BERNAMA