HDC issue: Ministry to take necessary action upon receiving outcome from probe
KUCHING: The Ministry of Local Government and Housing has assured the public that appropriate action would be taken once the internal investigation on the shortcomings in Housing Development Corporation ( HDC) is completed.
According to the ministry’s permanent secretary Bakri Zaini, the ministry and HDC are now investigating the activities highlighted in the AuditorGeneral’s Report 2016, as per instructed by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.
“The appropriate action will be taken based on the final outcome of the investigation, as provided for under the statutory bodies’ conduct and discipline rules,” he said yesterday.
On Saturday, Dr Sim said he instructed for a thorough investigation on housing matters as highlighted in the AG’s Report to be carried out before deciding on the next course of action.
Dr Sim was also quoted in news reports as saying that the actions would include referring the matter to the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC), police and other relevant authorities should there be any wrongdoing uncovered from the probe.
HDC has come under the spotlight after the AG’sReport 2016 disclosed that the corporation paid out RM2.88 million to two contractors for paint jobs that they had not done.
The report also mentioned there was advance payment of RM16.06 million without authorisation for an upgrading project in Sibu, resulting in the government incurring interest charges of RM1.77 million.
There were also payments of RM30.40 million made without verification by the officer, while payments amounting to RM20.77 million were unsupported by ‘Payment Certificates’.