Purchases sans tender a thing of the past
PM says move to plug leakages, stamp out corruption involving government procurements
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that approvals for government procurements under his leadership can no longer be conducted without tender.
Speaking at a gathering with the staff of the Prime Minister’s Department here yesterday, Anwar said the government under his leadership could not continue to allow leakages and corruption.
“There can no longer be procurements approvals without tender. Therefore, I would like to call on all of you to work together as a team. Let’s be commi ed to save our country,” he said.
The Prime Minister said when he was in charge of the Ministry of Finance, he had given instructions not to allow his family members or close friends to have interests in governmentrelated projects.
Anwar, who was sworn in as the Prime Minister on Nov 24, said he was not interested in ‘digging’ the problems of the previous government, but to focus on working to improve the people’s lives.
“The people’s lives, in general, are not as bad as in some countries, but they are in a rather difficult situation.
“I’m not interested in digging up old stories...what’s important is the future, what we can and should do in preparing ourselves for the future,” he said.
Also present at the gathering were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and A orney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun.
Meanwhile, Anwar in his address called on civil servants to work with the government leadership to bring about change to bring back the country to its glorious days.
He said civil servants need to bring the spirit of ‘islah’ (bringing back a situation to a correct, accurate and appropriate state) for the sake of the country.
Reform is required for the country to change, he said, adding that Malaysia had reached a certain level before, but unfortunately it had declined in terms of economy, stability and discipline.
“We may not be successful if the civil service is not with me,” he said.
Anwar said the public service is a pillar of the country and it will not change even if there is a change in the government or the prime minister.
“Leaders come and go, but civil servants remain in upholding the system and rules of the country,” he said, adding that based on his experience as finance minister, he would not have succeeded without the help of the civil service.
Therefore, Anwar said he wants all his soon-to-be-appointed Cabinet members to forge good working relations with civil servants.
“Listen to their views ... our intelligence, our tenacity, our interest will not be the same as their (civil servants) experience,” he added.