Other depts, agencies to be reviewed: Gobind
> Communications and Multimedia minister says move needed to ensure transparency
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation into the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) had prompted the need for an overhaul of the Communications and Multimedia Ministry’s other departments and agencies to ensure they are running in a transparent manner.
These, the Communications and Multimedia minister Gobind Singh Deo said, include the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and Mynic Bhd.
“Some of the departments are being reviewed and evaluated. I think there are no big issues with the current systems for certain departments. But for other departments, I see a need to relook at entire organisations,” he said yesterday.
Gobind was speaking to the media after a closed-door meeting with Finas senior management at Finas Petaling Jaya headquarters yesterday.
Gobind also pointed out that there is a need to study the funds and upgrade the procedures in Finas to ensure that the funds are utilised properly.
“I see there is a problem where the funds are channeled and there is a need to test and revise the whole process of the funding,” he said.
“What we need is a complete reform and reset of all the procedures here, so that we can ensure that the funding is being utilised fairly.”
He understood that there are many new talents that want to venture into the film industry and they need assistance but Finas needs a system that ensures the funds released are used for the right purpose, that there is no leakage and that not just certain quarters are empowered to channel the funds.
On MACC’s investigation into Finas, the minister said it has recorded statements from several individuals over the questionable financial allocations by Finas for 2017.
The Puchong MP said checks by MACC on June 7 were into the alleged misuse of funds allocated to Finas by the government in 2017.
“I do not want to delve into the details as it is still under investigation,” he added.
Finas this year received a RM36 million allocation to expand the national film industry, compared to the RM50 million it received in 2017.