Ensure best value in procurement to reduce govt spending, says Rafizi

 

Economic affairs minister Rafizi Ramli says the delivery and cost efficiency of each government project should be optimised to save money and prevent leakages. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The government should ensure that it gets the best value in procurement projects in order to reduce its expenditure, says economic affairs minister Rafizi Ramli.

Rafizi said this could be a short-term approach to strengthening Putrajaya’s fiscal position in view of the national debt estimated at RM1.2 trillion.

“We can ensure that we optimise the delivery and cost efficiency of each government project as a way to save money and prevent leakages,” Harian Metro quoted him as saying.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia could save up to RM10 billion from leakages that occurred in the government procurement process.

Having been in office for less than two months, he said, he had already identified how the government could have saved RM3 billion to RM4 billion had it been more careful with its procurement procedures under the defence ministry.

While reducing leakages and wastage of resources was a good move, Rafizi said, the government’s revenue collection must also be expanded.

He said there was also an urgent need to restructure Malaysia’s economy to increase the number of services and high-value companies operating in the country.

Rafizi said although the national debt was estimated at RM1.2 trillion, the government need not be in a state of panic, but should focus instead on measures to improve the management of Putrajaya’s finances. - FMT