Putrajaya leaks up to RM26b annually

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim deduces figure by extrapolating government's spending trend in yearly Auditor-General's report.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim today accused the government of leaking up to RM26 billion annually through the mismanagement of public funds.

The PKR supremo explained that the figure was determined by extrapolating the government’s mismanagement of public funds in the yearly Auditor-General’s (AG) report.

“This can be disputed by saying the AG did not say it (the figure). But we had extrapolated the findings in the report,” Anwar told a press conference here.

“We found that the government leaks RM23 billion to RM26 billion annually through mismanagement of its finances,” he added.

Anwar said the latest findings by the AG was “not surprising” as it “continues to show a consistent pattern on the lack of care in managing government finances and assets”.

“There is weak management and supervision of government projects, continued financial malpractices and more importantly, the lack of political resolve to stop all leakages and inefficiencies in managing public funds,” he said.

“There is continued lackadaisical attitude in spending government money by ministries and lack of political will to curb repeat offenders despite the government’s continued calls for transformation,” he added.

Anwar then claimed the current “trend” was for ministers to put all the blame on “smaller civil servants”.

“It is time for their political masters to be held equally or not even more responsible for abusing public funds,” he said.

“We urge MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) to conduct a thorough investigation on the alleged financial malpractices and to bring the culprits to justice, regardless of position and power,” he added.

Pakatan states performed better

Asked to comment on the findings of leakages in Pakatan-led states, Anwar said the opposition had in fact, performed “far much better” than BN-led states.

“The excesses in spending as well as the weaknesses and flaws in Pakatan states are minimum compared to other (BN) states,” he said.

He assured that Pakatan has since set up a special committee to look into the finances of the three states – Selangor, Penang and Kelantan.

“We have alerted the Menteris Besar and Chief Minister of all three states. Every comment by the AG must be discussed by the executive councillors and due action must be taken against those responsible,” he said.

Asked if he thought the findings in this year’s report was not as “scandalous” as previous reports, Anwar dismissed this as the lackadaisical attitude of the public.

“If you think RM67.6 million spent on Hari Belia 2012 is not scandalous, then that is the problem,” he said.

“It may not be as scandalous as NFC (National Feedlot Centre), but how can you use public funds in that nature when there is massive unemployment in the country?” he asked.

Anwar then reiterated his call for the MACC to take immediate action against those responsible for wastage and abuse of taxpayers’ money.

“We repeat that the ongoing financial malpractices and lackadaisical attitude of the government in spending the country’s money are totally unacceptable,” he said.

“The PAC (Public Accounts Committee) should also call up relevant ministers and hold them accountable for their actions. A meeting must be called immediately.”