Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen today defended her ministry's advertisement spending, which came under scrutiny in the Auditor-General's Report 2010, because all set procedures were adhered to.
Met after officially opening Art Expo 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Ng said the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) had followed Finance Ministry procedures, which also allowed for direct negotiations.
She said previous experience had taught the ministry that this procedure was better because it would bypass “intermediaries” or agents who will charge 15 percent commission.
The amount spent was also well within their budget, she added.
"We did not overspend as reported by Malaysiakini. In fact spending for 2009 and 2010 is the lowest ever... Very, very, tight fiscal policy,” she said.
(Incidentally, Malaysiakini had not reported on the matter regarding the Tourism Ministry's advertisement spending.)
The audit report said that for the year 2009 and 2010 MTPB had purchased advertising space for RM194.31 million, but going through a tender process the same jobs would have only cost them RM75.38 million.
The ministry also paid RM1.95 million for 1,000 units of pamphlet racks.
“If you know the advertising media industry you will know that you have to deal direct with the media.
“Prices are already fixed for each square inch etc... I cannot ask Sin Chew, Star to come and tender,” she said.
The minister added that the spending for 2011 has also been above board, with the appointment of five advertising agencies, despite the “hullabaloo” surrounding it.
Moving forward, she said that the ministry secretary-general has been instructed to study the AG’s Report and present findings relating to the ministry.
This is so the ministry can improve on areas in which it is falling short, she said.
Pempena question dodged
Meanwhile, Ng refused to comment when asked of another part in the AG's Report pertaining to the ministry - the list of failed restaurants abroad spearheaded by Tourism Ministry subsidiary Pempena.
“You have to ask the Pempena chief about that... It’s better to ask him as he would have the information at his fingertips,” she said.
The failures were scrutinised in previous AG’s Reports, while this year’s report notes that most of the cases are now under Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and police probe.
No such action is, however, undertaken for the restaurant in London, which raked in only GBP 13,000 in 2007, falling far behind its annual target of GBP 520,692.
Earlier, when launching the art exhibition which will be open to the public from today to Nov 1, Ng said that the ministry is providing Malaysian artists with a platform to showcase their work to the world.
The expo also allows Malaysia to use art as a product to attract tourists.
“Art tourism has been around since the 19th century with people flocking to Florence and Rome to look at art work... Art is here to stay,” she said.
The public expo, which last year attracted 42,000 people, is showcasing famous works from Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Joan Miró. A total 200 international works will be exhibited.
Some 200 local artists would also showcase their work, including reknown painters like Latiff Mohideen and Tengku Sabri Ibrahim.
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