Major projects to be audited from start
FUNDS MANAGEMENT: Too late to rectify loopholes in completed projects, says AG
THE National Audit Department has started auditing ongoing government projects worth more than RM100 million to curb discrepancies of funds.
Auditor General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said in the past, the department only audited government projects once they had been completed, which he described as “too late”.
“Now, we are given the mandate to audit projects from the very beginning so that weaknesses can be rectified.
“All major projects are under our radar and we have listed the projects involved.”
Ambrin said the department was also prepared to audit future government projects worth more than RM500 million.
He said it would stop corruption at its roots, as suggested by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.
“We will cooperate to ensure all standard operating procedures are adhered to.
“This matter will be discussed in the meeting among the secretarygenerals next week.”
He said the department was monitoring the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Pan-Borneo Highway projects under the move, which was proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to ensure all processes and procedures were adhered to without any leakages.
“With regard to MRT, everything is well, on time and as planned,” Ambrin said after closing the National Integrity Convention 2016 here yesterday.
Earlier in his speech, Ambrin told the audience, who were mostly civil servants, to avoid splurging, wasting and involving in corruption when dealing with government projects.
“The projects must be value-formoney. It is the responsibility of all civil servants to ensure that funds are optimised and leakages do not happen,” he said.
Apart from excessive wastage of government funds, Ambrin said, among the major weaknesses mentioned in the AG’s report were delays in work completion without valid reasons, repetitive mistakes and supplies not complying with specifications.