PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants all ministries and government agencies to prioritise management or governance issues and accountability aspects as highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report 2/2024.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said this matter was discussed during today's cabinet meeting.
"Today, in the cabinet meeting, several matters were raised by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, where he had received the AG's report.
"He did not want to impede any investigations by the authorities, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"Generally, it is up to the respective minister or agency related to or involved with any audited institution to take follow-up actions.
"However, the prime minister's priority is on management, governance and accountability aspects as highlighted in the audit report," he said at a press conference here today.
Fahmi said the AG's report was expected to be debated in the Dewan Rakyat by members of parliament early next week.
"We will give space for MPs to discuss this and I understand that (the debate) is slated for early next week. Subsequently, we will definitely hear views from MPs and appropriate actions will be taken.
"But we (will) give space for MPs to see and discuss, and for ministers to respond.
"At the same time, if the National Audit Department feels there are matters that need to be extended or brought to the attention of enforcement agencies like MACC, there will be no impediment," he said.
When asked if the issue involving the Human Resource Development Berhad (HRD Corp) was a scandal akin to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Fahmi said: "We do not yet have the full information regarding the issues related to HRD Corp.
"But we need further investigation, and to allow members of parliament to debate (in the House) and the Human Resources Minister to provide answers in Parliament.
"We do not have complete information yet to provide an answer. It is not yet time for us to make any classifications or decisions as suggested earlier," he said.
The Auditor General's Report yesterday revealed that the Gerak Insan Gemilang (GIG) training scheme attended by 3,726 participants, some of whom attended up to 16 times, cost the HRD Corp RM51.69 million.
The report further highlighted irregularities in the deposit payment process for the purchase of the Menara Ikhlas property, totalling RM120 million, citing non-compliance with agreement clauses despite the refunded deposit.
Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its report found that the investment panel of the HRD Corp failed to report substantial investment activities to its board of directors, leading to a lack of oversight over its investment activities.
It was also revealed that there was no Bank Negara Malaysia representative as a member of its panel, which is a violation of the Human Resources Development (HRD) Act 2001.
Earlier today, the Human Resources Ministry submitted a report to the MACC regarding issues highlighted in the AG's Report and the PAC, which were presented in Parliament yesterday, following Sim's order.
Its secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the move was in line with recommendations by the auditor general (Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi) for the ministry to submit a report to the relevant enforcement agencies after the government-linked entity failed its audit.