MACC recommends charges for cases in 2012 AG's report

The Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said this today in an update on the actions taken against civil servants who were found responsible over the misconducts and negligence revealed by the AG's audit.

"As of February 21, 2014, MACC opened 18 investigation papers. Investigations on all cases have been completed. These cases have been submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor and further action also needs to be taken on witness statements," said Ali Hamsa.

Disciplinary action were recommended for the other cases where MACC did not recommend any court action.

Among the cases that were investigated by the MACC based on the AG's report were:

• Case of false claims involving Public Works Department director who affirmed a certificate of completion for construction works for the RM23.6 million Asrama Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) in Jeli and the RM100.4 million UMK campus in Bachok despite the contractor failing complete the building or meet specifications.

• Suspected bribery and mismanagement over the buying of instant trees for the Taman Dusun Bandar at a higher than market price involving Federal Territories Ministry; Landscape and Recreation Department, and City Hall.

• Case of officer from the Akademi Kemahiran Belia Golf Negara under the Ministry of Youth and Sports who certified the claims on the payment of allowances of RM100 a month for six months and a RM300 allowances for three months to 60 trainers when some trainers never received both allowances.

• Case involving two companies making claims from the Malaysian Youth Council with false details in connection with the 'Karnival Mesra Belia Parlimen Alor Star, Jelebu dan Muar' held in 2012 RM34,600 and RM186,300 on services involving camps and platforms as well as MC and artists.

• Case of Malaysian Youth Council officer who made false claims to the Ministry of Youth and Sports in connection with the 'Program Pemberian Bantuan' in 2011 involving RM1.53 million when the programme never took place.

• A false claims allegedly made by Telekom Malaysia (TM) to the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry in connection with the Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999 project between 2007-2012 involving RM3.34 million in costs for seminars and RM1.03 for outstation visits. A claim of RM3.19 million was also made between 2007-2010 for promotions and publicity despite the project being cancelled.

• The case of abuse of power by the Ministry of Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government involving a RM34 million upgrading project for the Thermal Oxidation plant, where there was an arbitration case between Chain Cycle Sdn Bhd and the ministry and this was within the knowledge of the ministry.

• Case of misappropriation in the giving of paddy fertilizers by the Kelantan Development Office where the criteria of the awards were suspect. The office was also found to have not managed the 'Rumah Dhuafat' aide program in a satisfactory manner.

• Case involving the approval for payment by the Terengganu state secretary's office involving the building of a guard post costing RM22,000 at Pangsapuri Ladang Gemilang, Perbadanan Kemajuan Iktisad Negeri Trengganu when the work was not done and the awarding of tender worth RM14,385,332.00 by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) over the design and buildimg of a steel hull training and research project that was according to the Malaysian Marine Department did not follow specifications.

Ali Hamsa added that as a long term measure, MACC not only focused on punitive action but also looked at improvements in terms of procedure and pratices.

At the same time, he added that there were a total of 378 reprimands in the AG's report, involving 111 (29%) for Federal Public Services, 38 (10%) for federal agencies and 229 (61%) for state bodies.

"As many as 267 (71%) reprimands involve the improvement of rules, procedures and work processes. Improvements are being made by the agencies involved. While 111(29%) reprimands involve 121 cases of mismanagement, abuse of power, misconduct and negligence," he said.