Parliament: ‘Filter AG’s report’
(The Star) – Before the Auditor-General’s (AG) annual report is made public, the Government should filter it so that the country is not embarrassed by it, said Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah (Jasin-BN).
“I support the AG’s report but what has happened now is that it gives a very bad impression and it is meloyakan (nauseating).
“If possible, the Government should filter the report before making it a public document,” he said on Tuesday during the Budget 2010 debate in Parliament.
He suggested that the auditors should not only be responsible for digging out information on the mismanagement of public funds but also “teach” and “guide” those who might have done wrong.
“The auditors should demand an explanation on the spot. Instead, they conduct the audit, disappear and then ask for an explanation via a letter.
“After a long lapse of time, the report comes out. By then, the damage is done,” he said.
At this point, Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan-PKR) stood up and said that the role to correct these cases lies on the executor (pelaksana) and if one has not done anything wrong, there should be no cover-up.
“We are not scared. The auditors’ work is excellent, I give it an A1 (grade). What we want is not have an embarrassing perception which would cause our competitiveness to drop,” he said.
Dr Lee Boon Chye (Gopeng-PKR) replied: “The AG’s report does provide a chance for them to explain. I think the reason for this audit is to improve the management system in (government) departments.
“Unfortunately, we do not see action being taken even though the report is so thick.
“If the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has no work, it can look through the reports and have enough work for decades. And I do not see how anybody can justify the purchase of a RM42,320 laptop computer,” he said.
In Ahmad’s reply, he said no one was stopping or criticising the report but said there should be a proper reporting system.
“After doing the audit, ask the department head for an explanation. If there is no satisfactory explanation, then make the report. But now, who will audit the auditor?” he said.
