In a first by Putrajaya, top civil servants today personally addressed media queries about problems raised in the second series of the Auditor-General's Report 2013.
Some at the briefing at the Institute of Integrity in Kuala Lumpur today appeared to be well-versed with the issues while some chose to beat around the bush.
Among the questions raised by the media was a RM1.85 million Felda procurement for Settler's Day in 2011 that was deliberately broken into small parcels with lower value to circumvent treasury rules which tender for procurement above RM500,000.
Called to answer, Felda director-general Faizoull Ahmad dismissed the matter as "nothing big".
"We already decided to give the contract because of the volume of people, the programme was attended by more than 40,000 people.
"At that time, the prime minister wanted to have something different because Felda has already transformed," he said.
Faizoull’s public relations answer and failure to address the issue of accountability did not impress R Nadeswaran, a senior editor withThe Sun, who turned up the heat.
"You did not answer the question, why are you raising that 40,000 people attended and using the prime minister's name unless he gave you the instruction (to break up the procurement)," he said.
At this, Faizoull (right)quickly marched back to the podium to respond, but chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa who was moderating the session intervened.
"I have received a note from the investigative committee, there were indeed a breach in the management of procurement in Felda.
"The breach was because there was no effective oversight system and the officers involved had low credibility and integrity.
"Action will be taken against the respective officers involved," he said.
'New thinking'
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low(below) said the briefing was to engage the media to break away from the perception among civil servants that the media was hostile towards it.
"Quite often we do perceive that whatever we do, they (media) see nothing good has been done.
"So we believe there is a need to change perception and foster this relationship," he said," he said.
Low said the briefing, which was attended by the secretary-general of several ministries and top leaders of government departments to address the audit report was "a new way of thinking" and hoped it will continue in future.
He also drew parallels to Singapore in stressing that Malaysia took the audit report seriously.
"In Singapore, the auditor-general's report is only about 70 pages. In that sense, the practice we have today exceeds the norm of accountability in the public sector," he said.
Some at the briefing at the Institute of Integrity in Kuala Lumpur today appeared to be well-versed with the issues while some chose to beat around the bush.
Among the questions raised by the media was a RM1.85 million Felda procurement for Settler's Day in 2011 that was deliberately broken into small parcels with lower value to circumvent treasury rules which tender for procurement above RM500,000.Called to answer, Felda director-general Faizoull Ahmad dismissed the matter as "nothing big".
"We already decided to give the contract because of the volume of people, the programme was attended by more than 40,000 people.
"At that time, the prime minister wanted to have something different because Felda has already transformed," he said.
Faizoull’s public relations answer and failure to address the issue of accountability did not impress R Nadeswaran, a senior editor withThe Sun, who turned up the heat.
"You did not answer the question, why are you raising that 40,000 people attended and using the prime minister's name unless he gave you the instruction (to break up the procurement)," he said.
At this, Faizoull (right)quickly marched back to the podium to respond, but chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa who was moderating the session intervened."I have received a note from the investigative committee, there were indeed a breach in the management of procurement in Felda.
"The breach was because there was no effective oversight system and the officers involved had low credibility and integrity.
"Action will be taken against the respective officers involved," he said.
'New thinking'
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low(below) said the briefing was to engage the media to break away from the perception among civil servants that the media was hostile towards it.
"Quite often we do perceive that whatever we do, they (media) see nothing good has been done."So we believe there is a need to change perception and foster this relationship," he said," he said.
Low said the briefing, which was attended by the secretary-general of several ministries and top leaders of government departments to address the audit report was "a new way of thinking" and hoped it will continue in future.
He also drew parallels to Singapore in stressing that Malaysia took the audit report seriously.
"In Singapore, the auditor-general's report is only about 70 pages. In that sense, the practice we have today exceeds the norm of accountability in the public sector," he said.
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