‘Wrongdoers let off lightly’

Official findings: Nik Azman tabling Auditor-General’s Report 2018 in Putrajaya.

PUTRAJAYA: Certain departments had meted out light punishment on wrongdoers for discrepancies or questionable actions, according to the Auditor-General.

This was the observation made by Auditor-General Datuk Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid, who was asked if punitive action was taken against those found to have committed wrongdoing, resulting in problems in government projects or programmes.

“There are times we felt that certain departments meted out light punishment.

“But we do not interfere because our job only involves audit findings. We will raise the issue of non-compliance and it is up to the internal investigation committee to decide on the punishment after investigating the matter, ” he told a press conference in conjunction with the release of the Auditor-General’s Report 2018 (Series 3).

He said the type of punishment probably took into consideration facts that were not to the National Audit Department’s knowledge.

“There may have been mitigating factors that were taken into consideration before imposing a light sentence on the offenders, ” said Nik Azman.

He said between 2012 and 2018, a total of 255 civil servants had action taken against them, including being charged in court and even given the boot after investigations were carried out on discrepancies and questionable actions found by the National Audit Department.

They were among 1,000 civil servants who were investigated after follow-ups were made on the Auditor-General’s reports.

Two were charged in court by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and three civil servants were sacked after they were found to have committed wrongdoing.

“If questions arise in the Auditor-General’s report, we will meet with the departments or agencies concerned together with the police, MACC and Public Service Department to set up an internal investigation committee.

“The committee will investigate and determine if the problem was due to mistake, negligence or power abuse. Action against the wrongdoer will then be determined by the committee, ” he said yesterday.

For committing various types of wrongdoing, warnings were issued to 141 civil servants, 11 were fined, demoted (1), ordered pay cut (10) and postponement of increment (26), among others.

Nik Azman said 604 civil servants were found not guilty by the respective internal investigations committee while another 141 individuals are still awaiting proceedings. - Star