The National Audit Department reported that as of June 30, 2025, unreturned research grants across four ministries totalled RM183.11 million, covering 7,904 projects.
According to the Auditor-General’s Report 1/2026, which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today, the ministries involved are the Higher Education Ministry, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
The audit found that this reflects weaknesses in financial control management, project monitoring, and project closure procedures, as well as an inefficient use of research funds to achieve their intended impact.
The Higher Education Ministry recorded the highest unreturned balance of RM110.67 million, involving 7,823 projects across five research universities: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Universiti Malaya.
Additionally, two implementing agencies under the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry recorded unreturned grant balances totalling RM55.64 million, while the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry recorded RM14.33 million, and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry recorded RM2.47 million.
The audit also found that RM9.72 million, or 5.3 percent, had been outstanding for over 10 years, while RM89.82 million, or 49 percent, had been unreturned for five to nine years.
The report said unmonitored research grant balances could be used for purposes other than those originally approved.
In addition, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry had RM55.64 million in unreturned research grants under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), involving the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd.
The report said agencies had used leftover funds to finance new 12MP projects without approval from the Finance and Economy Ministries.
- Bernama
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