Latest news with #RaymonRam
The Star
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Watchdogs call for Act to keep govt procurement in check
PETALING JAYA: A comprehensive Public Procurement Act with enforceable legal powers to address long-standing weaknesses in government procurement is urgently needed, say experts and watchdog groups. Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Raymon Ram (pic) said the Act must include transparency standards, independent oversight, legal sanctions for non-compliance, whistleblower protections and clear procurement dispute mechanisms. 'Simply consolidating current guidelines is inadequate; we need a law with teeth,' he said in a statement yesterday, following the release of the Auditor-General's Report 2/2025. Raymon also called for swift enforcement by all relevant agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police and others. 'All cases involving procurement fraud, abuse of power or negligence must be referred for investigation or prosecution. 'Any form of inaction sends the wrong signal to both the public and potential wrongdoers,' he said. TI-M also urged all implicated ministries, departments and agencies to publish clear corrective measures, including recovery of funds, disciplinary steps and procedural reforms, to restore public confidence and show institutional responsibility. Raymon also called for independent experts and third-party observers in all integrity pacts in high-risk procurements. 'The Auditor-General's Report must not be an annual ritual of regret,' he said, adding that 'it must serve as a catalyst for reform, one that rebuilds institutional integrity, ensures justice for wrongdoing and protects the interests of the rakyat.' On the Pre-Qualification (Pre-Q) system of procurement that was trialed and implemented by multiple ministries, Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah said C4 agreed with the findings of the Auditor-General's office, since the system was found to be inefficient and open to abuse, an open tender system should have been used instead to eliminate or at least reduce corruption risks. 'Based on the Auditor-General's Report in this instance, the goal of efficient procurements through the implementation of the Pre-Q system was hampered by the lack of a maximum period for second-stage invitation, causing them to be unnecessarily prolonged,' he said. The main issue that still needs to be addressed is that there is no legally binding baseline policy that sets the standard for all government procurements, he added. 'C4 Centre has long advocated for a Government Procurement Act that sets out minimum standards of adherence in terms of transparency, reporting and accountability at all stages of the procurement process, from advertising of tender until project implementation. 'We have seen that piecemeal reforms in specific areas of procurement does little to remedy the risks, and only shifts the flaws onto other aspects of the procurement process,' said Pushpan. Malaysia Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim said Parliament and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) should also summon the relevant parties for open public hearings. 'We need to accelerate the implementation of the eSelfAudit system, as announced by the Auditor-General, to prevent arbitrary approvals,' he said. On the management of subsidised cooking oils, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah proposed an IC-linked purchase system. This, he said, would be similar to the approach used in the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme. 'By linking purchases to consumers' IC, the authorities will be able to prevent repeat purchases beyond the permitted limit, and ensure that subsidies reach genuine domestic consumers rather than being diverted to the commercial sector,' he noted. He said an improved digital tracking system was needed, allowing authorities to watch for abnormal purchase patterns or unusually high sales, in real time. Saravanan said the issue represented a misuse of taxpayer funds and directly affected low and middle-income households who were the intended beneficiaries of the subsidies. 'While the intention of subsidising cooking oil is to shield vulnerable groups from the rising cost of living, it does not serve the purpose if leakages occur. 'In fact, they worsen the burden on low-income households by creating artificial shortages and driving up prices,' he said, stressing the need to reassess the sustainability of blanket subsidies.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Ensure accountability in deals flagged by A-G, says TI-M
TI-M president Raymon Ram said the Auditor-General's Report must not be 'an annual ritual of regret' but followed by structural reforms. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has urged the government to ensure accountability after the Auditor-General's Report 2025 flagged issues involving several projects worth hundreds of millions of ringgit. TI-M president Raymon Ram said the report unveiled irregularities and systemic weaknesses in financial management and procurement oversight, necessitating structural reforms. Raymon said such issues were not new and had been repeatedly flagged by the audit department, but they had continued because of outdated procedures, weak oversight and a culture of impunity. 'Where is the accountability for all these lapses? 'The government must take a firm stance and hold the leadership accountable for discrepancies involving public funds. 'These recurring findings highlight institutional weaknesses that demand more than administrative corrections; they require structural reform,' he said in a statement. Raymon said the revelations further erode the confidence of Malaysians in public institutions. The A-G's report flagged serious issues on how more than RM460 million of government funds was spent on land deals, university tenders, and defence contracts between 2020 and 2024, naming Felcra Bhd, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and the army. He urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police to initiate investigations into these issues to look into the possibility of fraud, abuse of power or negligence. He also called on the relevant government ministries, departments and agencies to disclose the remedial actions they would take within 30 days to show responsibility and ensure public confidence. The government must make it mandatory for independent third-party experts to be roped in to monitor high-risk procurements under 'integrity pacts', involving civil society and professionals from the private sector, he said. Raymon also urged Putrajaya to table a comprehensive public procurement law that outlines transparency standards, penalties for non-compliance and clear procurement dispute mechanisms. 'The A-G's report must not be an annual ritual of regret. 'It must serve as a catalyst for reform, one that rebuilds institutional integrity, ensures justice for wrongdoing and protects the interests of the rakyat,' he said.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
MACC, TI-M support efforts to improve Whistleblower Protection Act
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) have expressed full support for the government's ongoing efforts to improve the Whistleblower Protection Act. The MACC said the joint support was conveyed when the executive committee of TI-M, led by its president Raymon Ram, paid a courtesy call on MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki at the commission's headquarters in Putrajaya today. It said the enhancement of the Act is currently being undertaken by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, through the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU). During the meeting, Azam reaffirmed the commission's commitment to ensuring that the identities of whistleblowers and the information provided by them are kept confidential and not disclosed, once the whistleblower meets the conditions stipulated under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010. 'Meanwhile, Raymon said TI-M had submitted proposals to BHEUU to review several sections of the Act that contradict other laws, which could result in the loss of protection for whistleblowers,' it said in a statement. Both parties also discussed mutual concerns, including political funding, the strengthening of the Integrity Pact in Malaysia, the implementation of the Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) MS ISO 37001 accreditation, and beneficial ownership declaration. 'All tenderers and companies participating in government procurement, based on the guidelines of the Companies Commission of Malaysia, are seen as capable of preventing corruption and fraud in procurement processes involving government suppliers,' the statement said.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
MACC, TI-M back improvements to whistleblower law
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) have expressed full support for the government's ongoing efforts to improve the Whistleblower Protection Act. The MACC said the joint support was conveyed when the executive committee of TI-M, led by its president Raymon Ram, paid a courtesy call on MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki at the commission's headquarters in Putrajaya today. It said the enhancement of the Act is currently being undertaken by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, through the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU). During the meeting, Azam reaffirmed the commission's commitment to ensuring that the identities of whistleblowers and the information provided by them are kept confidential and not disclosed, once the whistleblower meets the conditions stipulated under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010. 'Meanwhile, Raymon said TI-M had submitted proposals to BHEUU to review several sections of the Act that contradict other laws, which could result in the loss of protection for whistleblowers,' it said in a statement. Both parties also discussed mutual concerns, including political funding, the strengthening of the Integrity Pact in Malaysia, the implementation of the Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) MS ISO 37001 accreditation, and beneficial ownership declaration. 'All tenderers and companies participating in government procurement, based on the guidelines of the Companies Commission of Malaysia, are seen as capable of preventing corruption and fraud in procurement processes involving government suppliers,' the statement said.
The Star
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Don't bite the scammers' bait
PETALING JAYA: Staying alert and cautious about potentially deceptive online links is not just a matter of good practice; it is an essential defence against cunning scammers who aim to drain the bank accounts of unsuspecting victims. Recently, scammers have exploited various forms of monetary and welfare aid offered online by the government, particularly targeting the lower-income group by masking hyperlinks to deceive applicants. Certified fraud examiner and anti-money laundering specialist Raymon Ram (pic) advises that being cautious of suspicious online links can help reduce the risk of online scams. He said that in addition to emails, malicious links are now appearing across various channels, including short message services (SMS), WhatsApp or Telegram applications, social media posts and pop-up windows. These links frequently disguise themselves as coming from reputable sources, including government agencies, banks and various service providers. 'Scammers have become skilled at making their links appear legitimate, but there are several red flags online users could look out for,' he said. He said scammers often create websites that mimic real organisations by adding small typos or extra words to genuine website addresses to hoodwink their potential victims. Raymon said users should check the core or root domain that comes before the top domain, like 'dot com', 'dot gov', or 'dot my', to make sure it matches the real one they want to use. 'Users should be aware that the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure protocol (HTTPS) does not assure safety, and neither does the padlock icon, as scammers can easily obtain these certificates. 'HTTPS alone does not prove a site's legitimacy, as it simply means the data sent is encrypted,' said the founder and managing principal of Graymatter Forensic Advisory, a company that specialises in financial forensics. He said scammers also insert messages that appear urgent or may emotionally trigger users to react and proceed without caution. 'Examples of such messages include phrases like 'your account will be suspended' or 'claim your prize now'. 'Other indicators of potential scams are poor grammar, misspellings and generic greetings. 'Also, in contrast, legitimate organisations typically address individuals by their names and maintain a professional and formal tone. 'Users are also advised to preview or scrutinise links to ascertain their destinations before clicking on them. 'If users are unsure, it's best to avoid such links and verify their authenticity with the institution they are trying to reach,' Raymon said. Asked whether a single click on a scam link can result in the loss of someone's bank account, he clarified that it typically requires multiple actions for users to lose their funds. Raymon said there are three main pathways that lead to online theft, namely through phishing websites – where a user clicks a link and lands on a fake bank login page before providing their username, password and one-time code. Scammers eventually use the details to access the real account and transfer money, he added. He said another tactic is to embed malicious mobile applications such as APK files. 'A user clicks on a link that tells them to install an unofficial Android app. 'The app takes over the device and reads SMS messages, intercepts OTPs, or puts up fake banking screens to get login information. 'These programmes allow scammers to watch the user's activities and capture sensitive information. 'Hence, it is not the first click itself that empties a bank account but a chain of actions that occurred earlier,' he said. He said scammers also hide dangerous links to trick people, which is a common method used in phishing and other scams. 'Scammers may hide links in several different ways. 'One example would be putting up a button or text that says 'Visit Bank Negara', but a hidden link that takes people to a different website,' Raymon said.
