Shahrir: Don’t look for instant results

NSTP

KUALA LUMPUR: Do not expect instant action to be taken on the findings of the Auditor-General’s Report, said Public Accounts Committee chairman Datuk Shahrir Samad.

"This is not as fast as reality TV shows.

"The person involved won’t get fired by the next show," he said, adding that the committee would sit on Sept 25 and 26 to discuss the report.

He felt that the public should give the relevant parties some time to do their work.

"I’m surprised (that everyone wants things to be done so quickly)," he said.
Noting that several individuals had condemned the civil service following the report, he said:

"You cannot assume that the civil service is not improving.

"In fact, the new ways of implementing projects — the direct negotiations and turnkey method — brought out the issues in the first place."

He said the public should appreciate the fact that such a report was published.

"It has been laid out openly. The first step is already taken. If these people (the auditors) didn’t do their work then nobody would know. We should appreciate that."

He noted that the situation was a vast improvement from 10 years ago, when it was difficult to even get the annual accounts from government departments.

Meanwhile, PAC vice-chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said it was important that each government department involved gave a proper reason for inadequacies uncovered by the report.