PUTRAJAYA (July 10): The Ministry of Human Resources will appoint a professional third-party auditor to ensure transparency in the independent audit of Human Resource Development Corporation Bhd (HRD Corp).

Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said this follows the reports of the Audit Department and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on HRD Corp's operations from 2019 to 2023.

He said following that, the ministry was instructed to carry out an independent audit on HRD Corp which will examine all processes, procedures, documentation and compliance with the law as well as any guidelines in the issues raised in the Audit Department and PAC reports.

"The ministry is currently in the process of appointing a third-party professional auditor and the procurement process is expected to be completed by July 31 at the latest.

"The duration for the independent audit and the duration the report will be issued will be determined once the auditor has been appointed," he said in a statement here Wednesday.

Sim said the independent audit will go hand in hand with the investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and any other authorities.

In addition, he said HRD Corp has been instructed to provide full cooperation to all relevant parties.

He said a special task force chaired by the ministry's secretary general, Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud, has been established to facilitate ongoing investigations, examine the Audit Department and PAC reports, including MACC investigation results and independent audits.

Sim said the team will further ensure that follow-up actions including improvements are fully implemented.

On July 4, Auditor General Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, in the Auditor General's Report 2/2024, said the ministry was recommended to refer the management of HRD Corp to the relevant enforcement agency due to the government company's failure in the audit.

Meanwhile, the PAC also revealed that a total of RM3.77 billion levy collection from employers was used by HRD Corp to invest in various investment activities.

The findings were obtained through HRD Corp's presentation slide dated 12 March 2024 as stated in the PAC report regarding HRD Corp's Training Fund Management and Effectiveness under the ministry.