PETALING JAYA: MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok has called for an investigation into allegations that civil servants and businesses collude to jack up the price of goods supplied to government departments.
Loh questioned whether this was the reason why goods were sold to the government at prices far higher than their market value.
“The extensive profit reaped may have been translated into “rewards”. Such incidents have been repeated too often,” he said in a statement.
Loh praised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s move to establish an Integrity Management Unit in every ministry manned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. He said this should be extended to the private sector.
“The 2014 Budget shows the government’s determination to reduce the fiscal deficit. But on the other hand, the Auditor-General’s Report has churned out repeated news of over-the-top expenditure by government departments.
"Thus, all government policies to reduce leakages and wastage come to naught if civil servants continue to overspend negligently,” said Loh.
He added that reports of malpractices committed by civil servants were nothing new, saying there was an urgent need to establish a system to make civil servants accountable for their wrongdoings.
“Hence, we are pleased with the Prime Minister’s announcement on 25 October 2013 on the formation of a Special Committee headed by the Chief Secretary himself to probe wrongdoings in the civil service.
"Government departments need to establish a culture of accountability of integrity,” said Loh.
He also called on businessmen to be patriotic and reject any form of solicitation from civil servants.
“The supplier must take the initiative to report such misdeed to the MACC. All of us play a role in working with the government to create a zero-corruption business environment,” said Loh.
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