While Malaysians are again outraged by the wastage in public spending as revealed by the Auditor-General’s Report, minister in charge of integrity Paul Low said it would be unrealistic to expect zero defects in government agencies.

Comparing government agencies with big companies, he said private firms also have their fair share of governance problems.

paul low 2"I don't want to be sort of justifying the government, but look at the big companies, they have their own problems," Low (right) noted.

"It would be unrealistic to expect everything to be perfect," he said when met at the World Chinese Economic Forum.

"There's still room for improvement... I am not saying this is not serious," he stressed.

He added that not all the revelations in the reports are related to corruption, there were possibilities that the officers also lacked the skills and knowledge in carrying out their jobs.

Low, however, hopes that with massive efforts to curb and prevent leakages, the situation would be better next year.

"It (wastage) will be reduced, I can't ensure it wouldn't happen again, nobody can ensure that, even company CEOs will tell you they can’t do it," he said.

Invitation to Ambiga made in jest

Among the efforts by his ministry, he said, are launching probes into irregularities in government procurement and projects involved big amount - those above RM10 million - and set up a review mechanism in each ministry.

The government does not only take disciplinary actions and refer to graft busters if there were elements of corruption, he stressed, but comes up with measures to revamp the government procurement system as well.

NONELow also denied that the revelations of the Attorney-General’s Report 2012 signalled the failure of a series of government transformation by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's administration.  

Meanwhile, the former Transparency International-Malaysia president said his invitation for electoral pressure group Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan (left) to joining the advisory board under the Crime Prevention Act (PCA) was made in jest.

"I said it as a jest, as a joke... I have no authority to ask her to join the panel," he said, referring to his suggestion in an interview with TV channel Astro Awani yesterday.

"Of course if you want me to recommend her, I have no problem with that," Low added.

Since the people have been doubtful of the panel, it may be the right thing to suggest to appoint those with good reputation to the panel, he explained.


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