6 theSun
2008 AUDITOR-GENERAL’S REPORT
Two full tanks a minute apart
KUALA LUMPUR: At 12.14pm on Dec 14 last
year, a government-owned Proton Perdana
filled up fuel worth RM113 at a petrol kiosk
in Raub, Pahang, and a minute later the same
vehicle filled up for RM112 at the same kiosk,
according to the 2008 Auditor-General’s Re-
port.
The same vehicle filled up at the same kiosk
at 6.35pm and 6.36pm on Dec 19, for a total of
RM225, the report says, adding that the same
thing was repeated on Dec 23, 24, 26 and 31,
for a total fuel cost of RM1,349.95.
The report cites the case as abuse of the
indent card for procurement of fuel for gov-
ernment vehicles, and says an audit check
revealed 24 cases of filling up of fuel in a period
of less than five minutes involving five vehicles
of the Pahang state secretariat.
The report says no action was taken
against the authorities in the mat-
ter and, as a consequence,
the state secretariat had
to bear the high con-
sumption cost
of fuel.
It says the state secretariat informed that the
matter would be resolved with the cooperation
of the Pahang branch of the Domestic Trade
and Consumer Affairs Ministry by inspecting
the system of fuel procurement applied by
suppliers.
The audit department also found the
maintenance cost of four Proton Perdana V6
Executive of the state secretariat to be exces-
sive compared to the procurement cost of the
vehicles.
For example, one of the vehicles, bought
for RM117,062, had run up a maintenance cost
of RM171,888 between 2005 and 2008 while
another had a bill for RM192,743 between 2004
and 2008, the report says.
It says the feedback from the state secretariat
was that the vehicles were used by state execu-
tive councillors and the maintenance cost was
high due to faulty gear box and accidents.
The report says the maintenance cost of
government vehicles in Perak was high be-
cause they were not sent to specified service
centres, with a sample payment voucher show-
ing the maintenance cost between 2004 and
2008 of RM262,256 for a Proton Perdana at a
service centre compared to only RM15,197 at
EON Service Sdn Bhd.
It says the state secretariat cited the need for
speedy maintenance of the vehicles used by the
state executive councillors.
The report cites abuse in the purchase
of fuel as well as unreasonably frequent re-
placement of tyres of government vehicles in
Penang, adding that the replacement of tyres
in three to 34 months and for use between
1,700km and 21,900km for three vehicles was
questionable.
Following this, the state secretariat requires
replacement of tyres to have the approval of
the principal assistant secretary (finance), it
says. – Bernama
| WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21 2009
MACC asked to probe
allocations abuse
by Hemananthani Sivanandam
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
managed by the Implementa-
tion and Coordination Unit
(ICU), Prime Minister’s Depart-
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan ment through district offices or
Rakyat wants the Malaysian state development offices.
Anti-Corruption Commission Pua also said three projects
(MACC) to investigate claims in Taman Danau Desa in Se-
on misuse of funds allocated puteh -- a closed door court
The same for parliamentary constituen- worth RM134,463; a com-
cies by Barisan Nasional (BN) munity hall worth RM130,313
vehicle filled MPs and Umno division chiefs, and recreational centre worth
up at the based on disclosures in the
Auditor-General’s 2008 Report.
RM135,653 -- were offered to
three separate contractors in
same kiosk Speaking to reporters at September 2007 but were not
Parliament lobby yesterday, Pe- completed.
at 6.35pm taling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua “Instead, an audit check
and 6.36pm said the report revealed some
instances of abuse of power,
revealed that the three contrac-
tors built one community hall
on Dec 19, misappropriation of funds worth RM400,429. The closed
and management of projects court and the recreational
for a total of involving Umno divisions. centre were not built.”
RM225, the “According to the report, the
construction of an audience
Pua, who is also DAP na-
tional publicity secretary, said
report says, gallery in Taman Danau Desa in the state development office
Seputeh, which was completed explained that the combina-
adding that in 2007 at a cost of RM48,960, tion of the three projects were
the same is a waste as it was not utilised.
The explanation given by the
based on the request of the
Seputeh Umno division chief.
thing was state development office is He also cited another ex-
that it was only fully utilised ample in the report involving
repeated on after the reappointment of the a community hall in Taman
Dec 23, 24, Seputeh Umno division chief in
November 2008,” said Pua.
Sri Endah in Bandar Tun Razak
which was not utilised.
26 and 31, Every parliamentary con- “Again, the explanation
stituency is given an allocation given in the report is that the
for a total of at least RM500,000 every hall was fully used after the
fuel cost of year under the Public Ameni-
ties Maintenance Projects (PIA),
appointment of the Bandar Tun
Razak Umno division chief. This
RM1,349.95. Basic Infrastructure Projects proves that the allocations for
(PIAS) and Rural Constituency parliamentary constituencies
Development Projects (PEKA). which are not represented by
The allocations are given by BN are controlled by Umno divi-
the Ministry of Finance and are sion chiefs,” Pua alleged.
Guan Eng wants A-G to visit Penang
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government wants ask the state financial officer to investigate and
the auditor-general to visit Penang and discuss give a full report.
ways to improve the performance of government “Strict action will be taken if there is no justifi-
officials. able reason for that expenditure,” he said.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said they will act Lim was speaking in a press conference after
on any issues raised by the auditor-general in the announcing the appointment of Ooi Geok Ling as
2008 report. the managing director of Penang Global Tourism
“We will identify any wastage of funds and the Sdn Bhd.
state financial officer will come out with explana- He said the appointment of Ooi, a Penangite
tions if needed.” and former director of an infrastructure company,
On the unreasonably frequent replacement will see her leading the tourism team in achieving
of tyres of three government vehicles in Penang the state government’s target of attracting 10
which was raised in the report, Lim said he will million tourists by 2014.