'Misai kucing in sinks' has auditor-general barking
Published: Oct 3, 2013 8:35 AM | Updated: Oct 3, 2013 3:59 PM
The herb 'misai kucing' has been found growing in sinks in Perlis. The cultivation is among the state Forestry Department's projects that has drawn the auditor-general's ire.
The herb 'misai kucing' has been found growing in sinks in Perlis. The cultivation is among the state Forestry Department's projects that has drawn the auditor-general's ire.
The Auditor-General's Report 2012 stated that the efforts to develop a plot of land for cultivation, the use a herb processing machine worth RM35,000 and output were unsatisfactory.
"The audit found that the misai kucing (Java tea) saplings were sown via stem cuttings. It is left in the sink until it grows roots before being transferred into poly-bags," said the report.
The report also stated that the processing of the plants were not according to procedure and had yet to be approved by the Ministry of Health for consumption.
It also found that 17,125 Tongkat Ali plants were destroyed by a fire in 2009 but was never replanted on grounds that "fires were frequent".
The total procurement involved to develop the project on a seven hectare plot of land is RM80,000.
State-owned tea company in the red
Meanwhile in Perak, the auditor-general raised issue with 110 lots of land in Kerian and Kampar that have been abused and hence, were imposed lower taxes than it should have been.
Of these, five lots were commercial buildings built on residential land, while the rest are agricultural lots used for other purposes such as for the setting up of petrol stations, commercial and industrial buildings, and breeding of animals.
“According to the audit’s calculation, an estimated total of RM677,856 in tax revenue can be collected if the land taxes are imposed at the actual rate for the 110 lots that violated the conditions (of use),” the report said.
The same report also highlighted low birth and high death rates in Perak’s deer-breeding programme, which was implemented under the 6th Malaysia Plan.
It says that RM1.4 million was allocated for the project between 2010 and 2012, and much of it has been spent. However, the project is still only hitting about half its deer population target.
Among the reasons attributed for the project’s failure are the lack of a sales target as well as expertise.
In Sarawak, the auditor-general also highlighted state-owned Mayang Tea Sdn Bhd, which it says is RM4,062,045 in the red by the end of the 2011 financial year and has never been profitable since it was formed in 1983.
This was attributed to, in part, the fact that none of its staff had any experience in the tea industry.
The report noted that the company has since stopped its tea production to convert the plantation into an oil palm plantation.
“The cost of planting the oil palms is paid for by the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra, which owns Mayang Tea) and will be transferred to Mayang Tea once it starts producing yield,” the report said.
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The Auditor-General's Report 2012 stated that the efforts to develop a plot of land for cultivation, the use a herb processing machine worth RM35,000 and output were unsatisfactory."The audit found that the misai kucing (Java tea) saplings were sown via stem cuttings. It is left in the sink until it grows roots before being transferred into poly-bags," said the report.
The report also stated that the processing of the plants were not according to procedure and had yet to be approved by the Ministry of Health for consumption.
It also found that 17,125 Tongkat Ali plants were destroyed by a fire in 2009 but was never replanted on grounds that "fires were frequent".
The total procurement involved to develop the project on a seven hectare plot of land is RM80,000.
State-owned tea company in the red
Meanwhile in Perak, the auditor-general raised issue with 110 lots of land in Kerian and Kampar that have been abused and hence, were imposed lower taxes than it should have been.
Of these, five lots were commercial buildings built on residential land, while the rest are agricultural lots used for other purposes such as for the setting up of petrol stations, commercial and industrial buildings, and breeding of animals.
“According to the audit’s calculation, an estimated total of RM677,856 in tax revenue can be collected if the land taxes are imposed at the actual rate for the 110 lots that violated the conditions (of use),” the report said.
The same report also highlighted low birth and high death rates in Perak’s deer-breeding programme, which was implemented under the 6th Malaysia Plan.
It says that RM1.4 million was allocated for the project between 2010 and 2012, and much of it has been spent. However, the project is still only hitting about half its deer population target.
Among the reasons attributed for the project’s failure are the lack of a sales target as well as expertise.
In Sarawak, the auditor-general also highlighted state-owned Mayang Tea Sdn Bhd, which it says is RM4,062,045 in the red by the end of the 2011 financial year and has never been profitable since it was formed in 1983.
This was attributed to, in part, the fact that none of its staff had any experience in the tea industry.
The report noted that the company has since stopped its tea production to convert the plantation into an oil palm plantation.
“The cost of planting the oil palms is paid for by the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra, which owns Mayang Tea) and will be transferred to Mayang Tea once it starts producing yield,” the report said.
Related stories
Kelantan gambled millions away on gold mines
Kuis sees falling enrolment, hostel not fully used
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