Khairy: Immediate review of Youth Ministry's procurement process

PUTRAJAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (pic) wants an independent taskforce headed by the Chief Secretary to the Government to look into loopholes in the ministry's procurement procedures.

Commenting on the RM100mil corruption case involving a senior officer in the ministry, Khairy said the suspect had manipulated a weakness in the procurement process and was able to approve fundings without his or the secretary-general’s authorisation.

"We want an immediate review to be conducted on all the internal mechanisms and governance process relating to the channeling of funds in our ministry.

"I have discussed with the Chief Secretary of the Government on the setting up of an independent taskforce to identify the loopholes in the procurement process and improve it,” Khairy told a press conference at his ministry here.

Khairy said the taskforce would not involve officials from his ministry and pledged the ministry’s full support to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) investigation into the case.

“The ministry leaves it to the MACC to take the necessary action. I will continue to support the commission's efforts in eradicating corruption, misappropriation and misuse of power,” he said.

The MACC arrested a 56-year-old division secretary of the ministry on Friday on the suspicion of embezzling some RM100mil since 2010. -Star