PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has proposed six measures to strengthen governance over the management and disbursement of financial aid for the maintenance of non-Muslim houses of worship nationwide.
The recommendations were submitted by the Negri Sembilan MACC to the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) following a governance review into cases where some recipients failed to carry out approved maintenance projects after receiving ministry funds.
“Among the proposals is for KPKT to tighten its guidelines by requiring all non-Muslim houses of worship applying for maintenance aid to be registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) or recognised under the relevant religious laws.
"MACC also recommended limiting extensions of time (EOT) to unforeseen circumstances and introducing a specific procedure for the return of unspent funds or aid granted to applicants found to have breached application conditions," the commission said in a statement on Monday (July 13).
MACC added, to improve monitoring, the commission proposed introducing a more detailed repair works form and a physical site inspection report to be completed by the technical team, supported by photographs of site visits.
The sixth recommendation calls for the inclusion of a declaration under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 to certify that all documents and information submitted by applicants are accurate and comply with existing regulations.
The proposals were presented to Housing and Local Government deputy secretary-general (Housing and Community Wellbeing) Zulkeflee Sulaiman, representing secretary-general Datuk Wira Dr M Noor Azman Taib, during a briefing in Putrajaya on Monday.
According to the MACC, Zulkeflee welcomed all six recommendations aimed at strengthening integrity, governance and internal controls.
He also agreed to adopt the proposals and signed the Governance Improvement Report, witnessed by Negri Sembilan MACC director Awgkok Ahmad Taufik Putra Awg Ismail.
The anti-graft agency said the initiative reflected the commitment of both agencies to improve governance, enhance compliance and ensure public funds are distributed transparently to eligible recipients.
