PUTRAJAYA (July 5): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants every ministry, department and agency to give priority to the aspects of management, governance and accountability in issues mentioned in the Auditor General's Report 2/2024 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the unity government’s spokesman, said that the matter was raised by Anwar in the Cabinet meeting that he chaired on Friday.

“It is now up to the respective ministers related to the audited institutions, agencies and departments to take follow-up action.

“However, the prime minister's priority is the aspects of management, governance, and accountability in issues raised in the AG's Report,” he said.

Fahmi said the report is expected to be debated in the Dewan Rakyat next week to give room for members of Parliament to share their opinions and views.

“At the same time, if the National Audit Department believes that there are any matters that need to be brought to the attention of enforcement bodies, such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), there would be no objection [from the government],” he said.

Referring to the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) issue, Fahmi said Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong had informed the Cabinet that he would give full cooperation to the authorities, especially the MACC, to carry out an investigation.

“Sim said he had received the report on the issue raised in the AG's Report, and will not stop any investigation undertaken by the authorities,” Fahmi said.

The media on Friday reported that the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) had submitted a report on the issue involving HRD Corp to the MACC, in line with the recommendation in the AG's Report.

On Thursday, Auditor General Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, in the report, recommended that the MOHR refer HRD Corp's management to the relevant enforcement agencies, after finding that its actions and decisions did not comply with procedures, and did not protect the interests necessary for achieving the company’s objectives.

Prior to that, the Public Accounts Committee also disclosed that a total of RM3.77 billion in levies collected from employers for training development programmes had been used by HRD Corp to make several varied investments that were not the goal of its establishment. 

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