I refer to the Malaysiakini report Auditor-General's report: ACA to probe allegations .
The Auditor-General's 2006 Report is sending shockwaves across the nation. It also brings to the fore and puts on display to the global community the various discrepancies here that will need much explanation from relevant authorities and politicians.
Two truths surface from this expose. One, the government of the day must be commended for allowing the AG to do his job well for allowing the findings to be brought out into the public domain. After all, in the final analysis, it is about the use of public funds - or rather the wasting away of the taxpayer's hard-earned money.
The other truth is, why did we have to wait for the completion of one financial year in order to know that things were not right? Surely, all government departments and organisations - just like those in the private sector - would have systems and guidelines in place to serve as a check-and-balance when purchase prices are deemed abnormally over-priced or when approvals obtained were not consistent with existing standard operating policies.
Further, as Albert Camus said, 'integrity has no need for rules'. Hence, responsible officers should have raised the alarm when they suspected irregularities in the way purchase agreements were concluded. Why was this not done and if it was, what did their superiors do about it?
In the final analysis, we must reckon that the AG's report does not require explanations or reasons why. People need to be held accountable for why best practices were not adhered to. Common sense and responsible attitudes dictate that any person would always strive to save money for his or her company without compromising on quality.
Likewise, as is the common practice among many responsible private enterprises, officers who fail in their duties to spot, report and act on malpractice in the workplace will suffer the immediate fate of disciplinary action and its appropriate outcome.
Unfortunately, the last time the AG presented his report, we hardly saw heads rolling. And so, as the story goes, we now see the shocking shortcomings being unearthed by this year's report.
What the 'rakyat' will want to see is not more explanations but for individuals who failed in their duties taking accountability. This particularly calls for heads of department to step forward and take the blame and not go on a witch-hunt. A good leader, after all, is one who supervises and facilitates the running of the various departments, agencies and ministries that they lead.
Hopefully, all those who have shamed the nation's reputation will not escape with yet another 'tutup satu mata' recurrence.
