Only 11 of audited state bodies receive ‘excellent’ rating
KUCHING: Only 11 of the 32 Sarawak state government ministries, departments and agencies audited by the National Audit Department received ‘excellent’ or ‘ five star’ rating for their financial management performance in 2017.
The Auditor- General’s Report 2017, which was released to the public through the National Audit Department’s website yesterday, disclosed Chief Minister’s Office as one of the 11 state ministries, departments or agencies with ‘excellent’ rating ( score of 90 per cent and above). CMO scored 90 out of 100 per cent.
The other 10 with ‘ excellent’ rating are Sarawak Treasury Office ( 93.86), Miri Resident’s Office ( 93.8), Sibu Resident’s Office ( 92.32), Lawas District Council ( 92.17), Marudi District Council ( 91.9), Bintulu Development Authority ( 90), Bintulu Resident’s Office (90), Sarikei District Council ( 90), Sibu Municipal Council ( 90), and the Infrastructure Development and Transportation Ministry ( 90).
Fourteen other state ministries, departments or agencies achieved ‘good’ rating while seven others received ‘satisfactory’ rating.
The ‘good’ state ministries, departments, agencies are Kapit Resident’s Office ( 89), Lundu District Office ( 88), Lubok Antu District Office ( 88), Sarawak Economic Development Corporation ( 87), Kuching Port Authority ( 87), Mukah Resident’s Office (87), Serian Resident’s Office ( 86.92), Sarawak Biodiversity Centre ( 86), Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority ( 86), Limbang Resident’s Office ( 85.43), Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports ( 84.06), Betong District Council ( 83.52), Saratok District Council ( 82.78) and Samarahan Resident’s Office ( 81.75).
Those given ‘satisfactory’ ratings were Sri Aman Resident’s Office (77.16), Kuching Water Board (74.06), Betong Resident’s Office (73.18), Sarikei Resident’s Office (72.53), Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development (71.65), Kuching Resident’s Office (71.49) and Sarawak Tourism Board (71.13).
However, the report noted the audit on the three ministries: namely Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports; Infrastructure Development and Transportation Ministry; and Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, gave less than satisfactory scores of 69.27 for control on vehicles and not satisfactory score ( 50) for trust and deposit.
This despite the three ministries scoring good marks for management, budget, revenue, expenditure and assets and store.
The audit on the 14 departments also gave satisfactory scores for vehicles (76.55) and assets and store (78.28), despite excellent and good marks being recorded elsewhere.
The 15 agencies being audited also scored satisfactory ratings for assets and store ( 79.4) although they managed excellent and good marks elsewhere.
On why low marks were given for control on vehicles, it said this was due to non- compliances such as vehicles being used without approval from officer in charge, log book not properly managed especially for official cars used by main grade officers, and no cross check of purchase statement with the copy of receipts.
The report also mentioned that on- the- spot surprise auditing were carried out at Sarawak Islamic Affairs Department; Syariah Judiciary Department; CMO; Local Government and Housing Ministry; Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports; Urban Development and Natural Resources Ministry; and Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
Similar checks were also carried out at Sarawak Land Development Authority, Serian District Council, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Sarawak Sports Corporation and Yayasan Biasiswa Sarawak Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Meanwhile, Auditor- General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad in her opening statement in the report said she had submitted 28 recommendations to assist the state government in rectifying identified weaknesses and to avoid recurrence of mistakes.
She also mentioned the report had also been submitted to the Sarawak State Secretary’s Office.
She hoped the report will be used as foundation to improve weaknesses, strengthening enhancement efforts, increase accountability and integrity, as well as to get value for money for every expenses incurred as desired by the government.