NEED TO AUDIT HOPE FUND
ILEFT the Auditor General’s Office in 1992, but I have kept an interest in government audit matters. In this context, changes that have taken place with the change in government have attracted my interest. I have messaged my retired colleagues on the following issues. requires that “all revenues and moneys, howsoever raised or received by the Federation shall... be paid into and form one fund, to be known as the Federal Consolidated Fund”.
The Harapan Fund can, therefore, only be a temporary account in the bank for collection purposes and the money received must be paid over to be accounted for in the Federal Consolidated Fund at the earliest to comply with the provisions in the Constitution.
The Federal Government’s money cannot be kept outside the Federal Consolidated Fund. been accounted for in the Federal Consolidated Fund. The appointment of a private auditor is questionable.
Maybank should pay over to the accountant-general as early as possible the collection received, preferably on a daily basis, with complete documents of donors or contributors for the government to maintain such information and be answerable to any questions arising on the matter.
The donations remitted to the accountant-general will initially be accounted for as a trust deposit, and eventually credited into a revenue account, perhaps called Harapan Donations.
The aim of this collection is to help the government repay loans. The repayment of loans is a charged expenditure, and the repayment provision will be reflected in the national budget for Parliament’s approval.
The appointment of the retired AG as chairman of a committee to review and investigate contracts and procurement practices of the previous government is appropriate.
He has the ability, experience and public standing, but can he accept this important position in view of Article 105(2) which bars “a person who has held the office of Auditor General” to “any other appointment in the service of the Federation...”?
The committees formed by the Pakatan Harapan government to reform government institutions, practices and procedures must or can be taken as an extension of the federal service, more so if federal funds are used to maintain the office of the re-employed AG as chairman of an investigative committee.
When you work in the AG’s office, you have to read and understand the legal issues that can confront you when you audit the ministries, departments and agencies.