PUTRAJAYA (Oct 11, 2007): Civil servants responsible for financial irregularities and mismanagement of public funds as cited in the Auditor-General (A-G)'s Report will be punished. And next year, the A-G will state the action taken to address wrongdoings exposed in his previous reports.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan made this pledge in a media roundtable discussion in his office today.

"I shall do it. It won't take a year to do this ... to act against the few who have tarnished the name of the civil service," he said.

He said disciplinary action includes demotion, transfers and non-confirmation.

"Sacking them may be a bit too drastic and gives rise to legalities and other issues, but that does not mean we cannot take (other forms of) action," he said.

Mohd Sidek said these actions are not just limited to those implicated in the A-G's Report but also includes civil servants found guilty of other disciplinary matters and dereliction of duties.

He said while the Anti-Corruption Agency is at liberty to conduct its own investigations to establish elements of graft in the A-G's Report, his office, the Public Service Department as well as departments or agencies cited in the report can also initiate internal investigations and take appropriate disciplinary action.

"The Treasury has also asked some of the ministries and departments to answer for these shortcomings," he said.

Mohd Sidek said he had discussed with A-G Tan Sri Ambrin Buang on follow-up action that needs to be taken following the damning report that details excesses in several state and federal agencies such as the Youth and Sports Ministry paying RM224 for a set of screwdrivers for National Youth Skills Institute. The market price was only RM40.

Other examples cited were Mardi spending RM106,818 on overseas trips without approval and the under-utilisation of the RM290 million Customs Information System.

The A-G's report will also take a new format with the inclusion of action and explanations provided by those implicated in previous reports.

There will be a follow-up and there will be action.

"An explanation by the department on excesses is not enough as the explanation itself must be credible and must include action taken (to rectify the problem or punish the wrong-doers)," he said.

Mohd Sidek added that the present administration allows for these matters to be exposed. "The government took the risk and decided to expose these shortcomings as we don't want these problems to be repeated," he said.

Mohd Sidek, who is also chairman of Pemudah, the committee set up to improve the public delivery service, said he will get the PSD to give him periodical reports on any disciplinary action taken against civil servants. This information will in turn be fed to the media to assure the public that the government acts against civil servants who do not perform.

R.Nadeswaran comments:
Change is in the air