Dewan Rakyat approves AG's Report

New Straits Times

4 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat yesterday approved the Auditor General's Report 2/2025 on the activities of federal government ministries, departments, statutory bodies, and companies.
The report includes matters raised from audits on five programmes, activities, and projects across seven ministries.
The motion, tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, was passed by a majority voice vote after being debated by 32 Members of Parliament.
When winding up the debate for the department, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran clarified that the Auditor-General may be appointed from among public service officers.
"For the information of Honourable Members, Clause 1 of Article 105 of the Federal Constitution provides that the Auditor-General shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Conference of Rulers. Referring to Article 105 read together with subparagraph 1(1) of the First Schedule to the Audit Act 1957 (Act 62), the Auditor-General may be appointed from among members of the public service, and such appointment is valid," he said.
Kulasegaran was responding to Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), who had questioned the appointment of Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi as Auditor-General while she was still serving in the civil service.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, during his winding-up speech, said continuous improvements are underway following the LKAN investigation into procurement management at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
He said that since Feb 28, measures have been taken to align with the Higher Education Strategic Direction 2025, including urging the Internal Audit Committee to follow up after discovering that several procurement circulars previously used were outdated.
"For example, UKM was still referring to Treasury Procurement Circular 2.0 when it had already been updated to version 2.2. The Pre-Tender and Coordination Committees have also been dissolved, effectively ending their functions," he said.
Rural and Regional Development deputy minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, responding for her ministry, said it had taken note of AG's Report 2/2025's criticisms regarding Felcra Bhd's oil palm estate performance.
Rubiah explained that plantation yields could only be measured progressively, noting that three out of four estates had shown improved output and profits, including Estet Telupid in Sabah, and Sungai Rawit 2 and Aring estates in Kelantan.
"However, the current performance of one estate, Estet Dabong, has yet to reach the targeted level. This must be understood in light of unexpected factors, such as a shortage of skilled plantation workers and extreme weather affecting harvesting operations. Nevertheless, Felcra has taken proactive measures, including increasing the number of harvesters and progressively repairing agricultural roads. Recovery efforts are expected to yield more positive results moving forward," she said.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, in his winding-up speech, said contractor selection for Phase 1B of the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway Project was conducted through a selective pre-qualification open tender.
He said the process was essential to ensure only companies with proven technical, financial, and experience capacity were awarded the large-scale, high-impact project.
Nanta also cited delays in land acquisition, utility relocation, labour shortages, and material constraints as key challenges, adding that the ministry had taken remedial steps in collaboration with relevant agencies.
Meanwhile, Energy Transition and Water Transformation deputy minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said all criticisms raised, including those on procurement management, would be taken into account.