The Star

Saturday October 31, 2009

Task force to look into irregularities noted in A-G's Report

By DHARMENDER SINGH

PUTRAJAYA: A high-powered task force will be set up immediately to scrutinise wrongdoings reported in the recently-released Auditor-General’s Report, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

This is to ensure that those involved in any misappropriation of funds or abuse of power would not “get away with it” but face the consequences.

This is the first time that such a task force has been formed to look into irregularities as noted in the Auditor-General’s Report.

The Prime Minister said the task force to be chaired by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan will include Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, Public Services Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam and Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission would be called to join if necessary, he said.

The task force is to hold its first meeting on Monday and Sidek will announce its findings from time to time.

Najib said the decision to form the task force was made by the Cabinet at its meeting yesterday because it felt there was a need to look into any wrongdoings closely.

The Cabinet felt that serious action against those involved was needed to ensure that matters like abuse of power and misappropriation did not repeatedly appear in the annual report, he told a special press conference in announcing the setting up of the task force here yesterday.

“I want to state that the reason (for the setting up of the task force) is not to launch a witch hunt but to identify those who intentionally and openly committed offences because we (the Cabinet) felt that they should not be allowed to go without having any action taken against them.

“They will not necessarily face legal action. They might face administrative action like surcharge, demotion, having their promotions frozen or be transferred,” Najib said.

The task force, he added, would study in stages the irregularities reported and start with cases with clear signs of abuse of power or misappropriation.

Asked if setting up the task force was aimed an stopping corruption, he said: “Let’s be realistic, there cannot be absolute zero corruption but if we show seriousness (in going after those involved), I believe we can bring the numbers down considerably,” he said.

Najib also said the Government would be fair and act compassionately if there were mitigating factors that led to the actions of the offenders.

He said investigations by the task force, which would have the power to haul up and question any person it felt necessary, would also look at administrative staff in the departments concerned to ascertain if they issued inappropriate orders.

“In line with the high performance culture, we will have certain measures that I will announce later to recognise and reward those who do well, so it is not just punitive in nature,” he said.

At a function later, Sidek said the task force would make sure that those who deliberately did not follow the rules were brought to book.

He said this was part of the Government’s efforts in enforcing existing rules and regulations.

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Does that means no action? What i understand by the PM's statement

1)They will not necessarily face legal action=no legal action

2)They might face administrative action= no administrative action

Am i right?

Buying a notebook for 40k++ each and get away with it? Why don't they bill 4k for the notebook and say 36k is for the software or maintenance? How about those who buy notebook at 30k, 20k, 10k maybe?

Why dont our PM said They will face legal action and also administrative action? And then said we will publish all the name of these people in the newspaper, let them be ashamed of their action. We don't tolerate this kind of corruption. Muahahaha.....

This is the type of PM we all want.