I refer to Malaysiakini report AG's report: Haul errant ministers before PAC.

Pak Lah campaigned on a fight-corruption platform during the 2004 general election. The public responded overwhelmingly by giving him a very big mandate. There was euphoria over his victory and many thought that the days of corrupted officials and ministers were numbered. There was hopes that those famous corrupted 'big fish' would be put behind bars by him.

After a few years, however, none of them was brought to book much to the disappointment of those who voted for him.

Lately, even more corrupted practices were brought to his attention, the latest being the abuse of public funds in government procurement. It was reported by the auditor-general that screw drivers costing RM40 per set was purchased at RM224 per set. Technical pencils costing RM160 per set on the market was sold to Youth and Sports Ministry at RM1,147 per set. These are just a small scratch on the surface of public funds misappropriation.

Just about any one, even those without technical knowledge, will know that the prices quoted are way above the market norm. Certainly someone down the line must have taken a cut.

Pak Lah, it is now time for you put a stop to this malpractice. Let it be clear to you that the money spent is our money. We have elected you as trustee and caretaker of our money. We want every sen to be spent wisely.

Please do not keep your 'elegant silence' - this would not help. At best, what you have done so far is to ask the various ministries concerned to explain. Again, this is rather a very mild reaction to such glaring misappropriation of funds.

Explanations can be done by anyone. Excuses like 'inexperience' and 'lack of knowledge' by the officers involved have already been cited. If such simplistic explanations are accepted, I am afraid this episode will not be the last. Someone must pay the price, be it a low-down clerk or a high-and -mighty minister.