KUALA LUMPUR – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will be holding proceedings on irregular payments involving the National Security Council’s (NSC) Integrated Trunk Radio Network Project valued at RM499.18 million.
PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh this was among RM620.07 million in irregular payments, public losses, and wastage found in the latest auditor-general’s (AG) report.
These irregular payments are among eight topics of audit reviews on the compliance of federal ministries and departments, which totalled RM899.44 million.
However, Wong said the committee has yet to confirm a date for the proceedings, although it is expected within the next few months.
“We haven’t fixed a date because the matter was just established this morning,” he told a press conference in Parliament this afternoon.
“We will fix the time as our schedule is full for November. Perhaps it will be done this coming December, so we still have seven weeks’ time (to hold it).”
According to Malaysia.gov.my, the Government Integrated Trunk Radio Network or Government Integrated Radio Network is a national-level strategic project helmed by NSC and the Prime Minister’s Department to coordinate communications between government agencies since December 2009.
Also present at the press conference was AG Datuk Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid, who said the irregular payments on NSC’s project were found after several ministries and departments involved had failed to provide updates on their usage of the project funds.
Nik Azman said the project stretches for 22 years, and is used by multiple enforcement agencies and uniformed bodies such as the Customs Department, Fire and Rescue Department, and even the Health Ministry.
“The project is to connect (the agencies) in terms of communications. Every month, payments have to be made, but the payments come with the condition that the services must be fully rendered – or at least 97%.
“Before payments are made, users must verify that the services have been received, but audits found that these were not done at the user or NSC level,” Nik Azman said.
“The payments have been made (without the reports), so we view this as irregular payments because there is no validation that services have been provided.”
Earlier in the press conference, Wong said PAC has taken note of the government’s move to use RM98.06 billion – or 50.4% of the total RM194.56 billion of new loans –for the purpose of repaying the principal of debts for 2020.
He added that the amount is an increase of RM15.34 billion compared with RM82.72 billion in 2019.
“This amount is projected to increase in the coming years, and it is a worrying situation as the government relies on new loans to finance the repayment of matured loan principals.”
Moreover, he said gross loans for RM48.57 billion development funds in 2020 were not fully utilised for development, as only 77.53% or RM37.66 billion were used for that purpose.
He said the remainder was used for amortisation of liabilities, guarantee commitments, and other operating expenses.
“It is an unhealthy situation where we cannot optimise development allocations,” Wong said. – The Vibes, October 28, 2021
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