Government Procurement Bill to be drafted, says PMO

PETALING JAYA: A Bill to strengthen governance involving government procurement will be drafted, says the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“The Government Procurement Bill is aimed at increasing accountability among those involved in government procurement,” it said.

“The PMO views leakages in national revenue seriously, especially when it involves government procurement.”

This was among matters agreed upon during the special Cabinet Committee on National Governance meeting yesterday.

“In line with this, the meeting agreed to draw up the Government Procurement Bill that can strengthen governance through legal means,” the PMO said in a statement.

“The meeting also agreed that the principle of integrity is taken into account in the Bill by creating a mechanism to look into complaints and objections that is in line with international standards,” it added.

The meeting also agreed in principle for the Freedom of Information Act to be drafted and create clear parameters and guidelines to provide the public with access to information from government and public bodies.

“In line with the decision, the Official Secrets Act 1972 will also be amended accordingly. The move is taken to give public service delivery a boost and encourage the participation of the people in the process of formulating national policies,” it said.

The PMO said the meeting also took note of 18 resolutions from two National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Research Conferences which presented several legal and policy recommendations.

“The resolutions will be used as input in the development of the new National Anti-Corruption Strategy,” it said.

“In order to ensure subsidiaries established under statutory bodies are administered more professionally based on good governance principles, supervision aspects need to be paid attention to.

“The meeting agreed that the existing and new legal frameworks should be examined to ensure good governance is being practised by entities where the government has interest in.”

The government said the PMO would continue to implement measures to strengthen good governance to support national development.