Sarawak government to invite Auditor General, MACC to sit in tender meetings
Abang Johari gives the thumbs-up as he poses for photographs after the adjournment of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday.
KUCHING: The Sarawak government will include the Auditor General in its project award committee meetings under State Tender Board chaired by the State Financial Secretary.
This was announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in his winding-up speech yesterday.
To further enhance Sarawak government’s good record of governance Abang Johari added he would also invite representatives of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to attend the state tenders meetings.
“It has been seen and heard that our so called ‘friends’ on the other side are using scare and fear tactics on the administration of Sarawak by continuously questioning the government and insinuating that the government is corrupt and not transparent.
“Making continuous erroneous allegations and insinuation of corruption on me, my ministers and the state civil servants without any proof or substantiation is to create the perception to the public that there is something wrong with the government.
“When they repeat such allegation many times, they are hoping that the people will believe in their stories and will vote against the government.”
Abang Johari said after he took over as the chief minister, the cabinet members had taken part in an Integrity Pledge witnessed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and head of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
He noted that Pakatan Harapan (PH) elected representatives have been harping on corruption among opposition leaders to bring them down.
The chief minister said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is not afraid of such tactics, and is ready to face any accusations of corruption.
“We will continue to abide to the financial procedures as laid under the law and the financial provisions of Treasury Instruction,” he said.
He told members of the
opposition in the august House
that they must back their accusations or allegations with facts and not simply create perception to the public or resort to character assassination.
“That is cheap politics. I want to call on all Sarawakians not to fall prey to this cheap politics of the opposition.
“Their objectives are to bring down the government using perception and not using facts because they do not have the facts.
“Only the State Tenders Board and the state Cabinet decide on projects to be implemented and not by any government heads,” he said.
He assured that the State Secretary, State Financial Secretary, State Attorney General, permanent secretaries and heads of departments and their officers and the civil servants carry out the cabinet’s decisions and directions prudently and effectively.