PUTRAJAYA, July 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants every ministry, department and agency to prioritise management, governance and accountability over issues highlighted in the Auditor-General’s (AG) Report 2/2024, tabled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is also Unity Government spokesman, said Anwar raised the matter at the Cabinet meeting today.
“It is now up to the ministers of the audited institutions, agencies and departments to follow up.
“However, what is the Prime Minister’s priority is the aspects of management, governance, and accountability in issues raised in the AG Report,” he said.
Fahmi said the report is expected to be debated in the Dewan Rakyat next week to give room for MPs to share their views.
“If the National Audit Department believes there are matters to be brought to the attention of enforcement bodies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), there is no objection,” he said.
Referring to the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) issue, Fahmi said Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong informed the Cabinet he will cooperate with authorities, especially the MACC, in the probe.
“He (Sim) said he has received a report on the issue raised in the AG Report, and will not stop investigations by the authorities,” he said.
The media today reported the Human Resources Ministry (MOHR) submitted a report on the HRD Corp issue to the MACC, in line with recommendations in AG Report.
Yesterday, AG Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, in the AG Report, recommended MOHR refer HRD Corp’s management to relevant enforcement agencies after finding its actions were not according to procedure and did not protect interests necessary to achieve the company’s objectives.
Previously, the Public Accounts Committee disclosed that RM3.77 billion in levies collected from employers for training programmes had been used by HRD Corp to make several varied investments, which were not the goal of its establishment.
— Bernama
