Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today   KUALA LUMPUR — A special legislation is needed to deal with government officials who flaunt regulations and act against the interest of the public.   This was one of the five recommendations mooted by the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) as it focused on the misconduct of civil servants and the lack of action against them.   The board also noted refusals, delays and reluctance in taking disciplinary action by the disciplinary board of certain ministries or government departments “as well as the disproportionate sentences that were imposed on a public officer engaged in corruption”.   The statement was in conjunction with the submission of the board’s 2013 Reviews Report to the Special Committee on Corruption (SCC) on August 12.   ACAB and SCC are among the five entities which act as the check and balance mechanism to monitor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) since 2009. The boar...

As published in Malay Mail today.   PETALING JAYA — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday maintained that a top civil servant had broken the Kedah Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 2007. It said it will request a written explanation as to why he was let off the hook. Following Malay Mail’s front page expose headlined “ Probed by MACC, made state secretary ”, the MACC confirmed that a letter and report were sent to the Kedah state secretary on May 13 last year pertaining to an investigation on Datuk Wira Mohd Puat Mohd Ali. Investigations by the commission revealed that Mohd Puat, who was then the state financial officer, had awarded three roadworks contracts worth RM980,000 each to three companies without referring them to the state secretary or during the state council meetings. MACC also deemed Mohd Puat’s actions to be a “conflict of interest” as one of the contractors used another firm to carry out renovations to hi...

As published in Malay Mail today. PETALING JAYA, Aug 13 — The spotlight is on Kedah State Secretary Datuk Wira Mohd Puat Mohd Ali following a report by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on irregularities in awarding contracts for three roadworks worth almost RM3 million. Mohd Puat was state financial officer when he awarded the projects without following procedures, said the report. MACC deemed Mohd Puat’s actions as “a conflict of interest” as one of the contractors used another firm to carry out renovations to his brother-in-law’s house which he later moved into. MACC investigations revealed Mohd Puat had on October 18, 2011 awarded contracts for three road works to three companies, worth RM980,000 each, without referring  them to the state secretary or during the state council meetings. MACC forwarded its findings to then state secretary Datuk Wira Rasli Basir on May 13, 2013, and advised that disciplinary action be taken against Mohd Puat under the Kedah Public ...