Unrealistic to expect zero defects in gov't, argues Low

While Malaysians are again outraged by the wastage in public spending as revealed by the Auditor-General’s Report, minister in charge of integrity Paul Low said it would be unrealistic to expect zero defects in government agencies.

Comparing government agencies with big companies, he said private firms alsoo have their fair share of governance problems.

"It would be unrealistic to expect everything to be perfect," he said when met at the World Chinese Economic Forum.

Low (right), however, hopes that with massive efforts to curb and prevent leakages, the situation would be better next year.

"It (wastage) will be reduced, I can't ensure it wouldn't happen again, nobody can ensure that, even company CEOs will tell you they can’t do it," he said.

Invitation to Ambiga made in jest

Among the efforts by his ministry, he said, are launching probes into irregularities in government procurement and projects involved big amount - those above RM10 million - and set up a review mechanism in each ministry.

Low also denied that the revelations of the Attorney-General’s Report 2012 signalled the failure of a series of government transformation by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's administration.  

Meanwhile, the former Transparency International-Malaysia president said his invitation for electoral pressure group Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan (left) to joining the advisory board under the Crime Prevention Act (PCA) was made in jest.

"I said it as a joke... I have no authority to ask her to join the panel," he said.

[More to follow]