Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Hassan Ariffin (centre) and Auditor-General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad (left) show the AG’s report (LKAN) 2016 Series 1 after a press conference at Parliament House. At right is Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Rossme Hamzah. — Bernama photo
KUCHING: A total of 13 out of the 27 Sarawak state government ministries, departments and agencies audited by the National Audit Department received ‘excellent’ or ‘five-star’ rating for their financial management in 2016.
Two state departments, however, were given ‘less than satisfactory’ or ‘two-star’ in the financial management performance rating published in the Auditor-General’s Report 2016 which was released to the public via the National Audit Department’s website yesterday.
Eight state ministries, departments and agencies achieved ‘good’ rating while four received ‘satisfactory’ rating.
The report named the 13 state ministries, departments and agencies with ‘excellent’ rating (score of 90 per cent and above) as Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC); Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB); Chief Minister’s Office; Resource Planning and Environment Ministry; Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment;
Kapit District Council; Sibu Water Board; State Attorney General’s Office; Sewerage Services Department; Pustaka Negeri Sarawak; Public Utilities Ministry; Yayasan Sarawak and Syariah Judiciary Department.
According to the report, the two departments with ‘less than satisfactory’ ratings were the Sarawak Museum Department and the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.
The eight state ministries, departments and agencies with ‘good’ ratings are Padawan Municipal Council; Local Government Ministry; Sarawak Rivers Board; Land Consolidation and Development Authority; Bau District Council; Youth, Sports and Solidarity Ministry; Welfare Department and Kota Samarahan Municipal Council.
The four with ‘satisfactory’ ratings are Ministry of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing; Sarawak Public Service Commission; and State Islamic Department.
“In general, the financial management performance (of these ministries, departments and agencies) was ‘good’ with an average score of 85.6 per cent,” said the report.
The report also mentioned that the financial management can be further improved if steps are taken by those ministries, departments and agencies including by giving continuous training and courses to officers involved in order to increase their knowledge and work competency.
“Apart from that, intensive supervising and monitoring from the heads of departments must be enhanced,” it said.
Meanwhile, Auditor-General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad in her opening statement in the report said she had submitted 31 recommendations to assist the state government in rectifying identified weaknesses and to avoid recurrence of mistakes.
She also mentioned that the report had also been submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office and the Sarawak State Secretary.
“I hope this report will be used as foundation to improve weaknesses, strengthening enhancement efforts, increase accountability and integrity, as well as to get value for money for every expenses incurred as what is desired by the government,” she said.