'Misai kucing in sinks' has auditor-general barking

The herb 'misai kucing' has been found growing in sinks in Perlis. The cultivation is among the state Forestry Department's projects that has drawn the auditor-general's ire.

The Auditor-General's Report 2012 stated that the efforts to develop a plot of land for cultivation, the use a herb processing machine worth RM35,000 and output were unsatisfactory.

"The audit found that the misai kucing (Java tea) saplings were sown via stem cuttings. It is left in the sink until it grows roots before being transferred into poly-bags," said the report.

The report also stated that the processing of the plants were not according to procedure and had yet to be approved by the Ministry of Health for consumption.

Meanwhile, it found that 17,125 Tongkat Ali plants were destroyed by a fire in 2009 but was never replanted on grounds that "fires were frequent".

The total procurement involved to develop the project on a seven hectare plot of land is RM80,000.

[More to follow]