Small number of civil servants involved in misconduct - Ali Hamsa

The number of civil servants involved in misconduct, as raised in the Auditor-General's Report, is small.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, nonetheless, said the government viewed seriously the cases of misconduct and that efforts would be taken to overcome them.

"We have 1.52 million civil employees. The impression given (by the Report) was that everybody is doing it. No, I can't even say that it is the tip of the iceberg. It's less than that.

"Those involved in wrongdoings, they are a small group but we like to address them. We give a lot of emphasis on that," he said during the Session With Media: The Auditor-General's Report 2013 Series 3, at Angkasapuri here today.

He said disciplinary action taken included, surcharge, witholding salary and promotion, and termination.

Earlier in his speech, Ali said numerous measures were implemented by the government in ensuring the admonition by the Auditor-General's Report was appropriately acted upon.

This included developing the Auditor-General's Dashboard which is shown in the portal of the National Audit Department, indicating the status of the latest action by the ministries and departments involved over issues in the Auditor-General's Report from 2012.

An investigation committee aimed at speeding up the investigation process on admonition, which were punitive in nature involving misappropriation, abuse of power, misconduct and negligence was also set up, said Ali.

"To ensure transparent and fair investigation, senior officers from outside those ministries under investigation, are appointed as members of the investigation committees," he added.

Furthermore, he said, the status of the follow-up action on the Auditor-General's Report, officers in the disciplinary proceeding, and officers who had been disciplined would also be shown on the Public Service Department website.

Ali said, for the Third Series of the 2013 Auditor-General's Report involving 495 audit enquiries, remedial measures were being taken by the ministries involved, over 475 constructive criticisms raised, and their status could be monitored on the National Audit Department Dashboard.

Meanwhile, for 20 admonitions which were punitive in nature, proactive action was taken by six investigation committees set up on Sept 25.

"Based on investigations which were carried out, five admonitions involving 46 officers were identified for disciplinary proceeding. Subsequently, two admonitions at the agriculture and agro-based ministry are being scrutinised by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)," said Ali.

He said 13 more admonitions were also being further scrutinised by the Public Service Department, Finance Ministry, National Audit Department, Attorney-General's Department and MACC for confirmation that misappropriations, abuse of power, misconduct and negligence really did not take place.