So easy to get past the MACC, just say you're STUPID OR CARELESS!

In a forum on the Audit Report 2012 at the Karangkraf headquarters, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Abu Kassim Mohamed reveals how people can get-by MACC despite causing a loss of public money.

“The problem is our laws, carelessness is not an offence, and we cannot charge someone for being stupid,” said Kassim in the forum titled ‘Audit Report: Wastage or Oversight’ yesterday.

On contrary, he said, in developed countries such offences are punishable.

In the forum also participated by Auditor General Ambrin Buang, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Nur Jazlan Mohamed and DAP publicity chief Tony Pua, Kassim said the financial leakages repeated annually in the AG’s reports because there was no rectification done to government procedures in procurements.

According to him, purchasing in bulk, despite in open tender, posed a risk where the lowest bidder’s pricing may be still way above the market price.

“Don’t allow unreasonable purchase. If the market price is RM100 but you allow purchase at RM3, 000, this is unreasonable,” he said, perhaps referring to the exorbitant wall clock, costing RM100 by purchased at RM3, 800 by Radio Televisyen Malaysia as reported under the AG’s Report 2012.

Agreeing with Kassim, Ambrin urged government departments to use experiences and intelligence to avoid buying items solve above market price.

He said they should opt for direct purchase and stressed that it was within the government procedures to do so.

Harakahdaily