'Bullying due to being struck dumb and helpless'

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamid had resorted to bullyingMalaysiakini journalists because BN could not explain the irregularities highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report 2012, says DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng.

He said BN is "struck dumb and helpless" in facing the magnitude of the wastage and wrongdoings, and wanted to distract attention away from its inability to provide answers.

"DAP condemns such hostile acts and bullying by Zahid when he could not answer Malaysiakini how the police could have lost weapons or justify how their public integrity could have improved with such a poor record," he said in a statement today.

Zahid had launched a tirade against Malaysiakini journalist Lawrence Yong during a press conference on Friday when he asked him about the RM1.3 million worth of police weapons and equipment that went missing, as highlighted in the auditor-general's report.

Lim (right) said BN leaders should not be in denial, but instead address weaknesses such as poor monitoring, inadequate procurement planning, and insufficient use of open competitive tendering.

He said the government's annual procurement bill amounts to 25 percent of Malaysia's nominal gross domestic product, compared to 12 percent in developed nations.

"In other words, the excesses, wastage and financial wrongdoings can have a negative impact on the economy's growth rate," he said.

Lim is also dismissive of the special committee led by chief secretary to the government Dr Ali Hamsa to scrutinise the report, saying that it "is a laughable attempt to let the issue die down by studying it to death".

Also on the committee are the Public Service director-general, the attorney-general, as well as representatives from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Finance Ministry and Royal Malaysian Police.

Lim said the committee is unacceptable as the wrongdoings are repeated every year without any action taken, and that the government should take up its call for a new committee comprised of the deputy prime minister, the parliamentary opposition leader, and the auditor-general to implement reforms.

"Only a high-powered committee can put fear into the hearts of those who betray the public trust given to those acting as a custodian of public funds," he said.