YeinJee's Asian Journal

Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang will introduce an accountability index next year that awards star ratings to all ministries, state governments and statutory bodies for their management of public funds. [Malaysiakini]

Marks (and stars) will be given according to performance…

4 stars – Excellent (90% – 100%)
3 stars – Good (70% – 89%)
2 stars – Satisfactory (50% – 69%)
1 star – Not Satisfactory (49% and below)

The Auditor-General’s idea is quite a bold one, but what’s the point? What would happen if some influential leaders get a 1 star rating? Samy Vellu should be a hot favourite, but can the cabinet fire him? What if Badawi or Najib get a 1 star… what can be done?

(I am not too sure if the ministers themselves will be accessed, just my thoughts)

The ministries and various bodies are not stupid; they might be managed by some of the brightest people in the country… they know how to manage public funds, a bit too well perhaps. Most of the funds are not simply wasted; the money has to go somewhere, into some bank accounts. The question is… whose accounts has the money got into?

Whenever there is some scandalous stuff exposed, there will be criticisms here and there… vowing this, swearing that… but in the end, nothing happens. The money is gone like the Bermuda Triangle mystery, no people is penalized accordingly, and no solutions are provided for every cases.

It’s not about mismanagement of public funds, it’s about corruption… from top to bottom.

We need some drastic methods to fight against corruptions; the Auditor-General’s star rating is not going to work well. Besides, if Mr Ambrin Buang is to publish something that could really harm the government leaders, do you think he will be allowed to hold his current position for long?

Some figures from Auditor-General on government spending…

• 146 sets of screwdrivers bought for RM 224 per set when the market price is only RM 40 per set;
• 82 sets of Staedler Mars technical pens bought for RM 225 per set when the market price is only RM 120 per set;
• 90 sets of Faber Castell technical pens bought for RM 1,147 per set when the market price is RM 160 per set;
• 17 sets of technical books consisting of 10 titles priced at RM10,700 per set when the market price is only RM 417 per set;
• 5 units of 3.1 megapixel digital camera that was bought for RM8,254 per unit when the market price was only RM 2,990 per unit.
• 650 sets of plastic vases bought at RM 42.80 per set when the market price is only RM 5.20 per set:
• 3 sets of settee bought between RM 8,250-RM9.075 per set when the market price is only RM 1,500 per set;
• two tower cranes bought for RM 5.72 million when the market price is only RM 2.98 million
• 60 used cars bought at a price of RM 4.24 million when the market price is only RM 2.8 million an excess of RM 1.44 million;
• 152 desktop computer packages bought for RM 4.5 million when the market price is only RM 1.4 million, an excess of RM 3.1 million;
• 420 sets of cement mortar boards bought at RM 1,027 per set when the market price is only RM 150 per set;
• 3 cabins bought for RM 141,900 per cabin when the market price is only RM 20,000 per cabin; and
• 2 units of two-tonne car jack bought for RM 5,471 per unit when the market price is only RM 50 per unit.

This is how Malaysian government is spending our tax money. [Hat tip to Wengsan]

I had some conversations with friends and family over the weekend about the 50th Merdeka celebration, that our government is making too much hype about it… for me, 49th, 50th, or 51st anniversary doesn’t make any difference.

Most people were not sharing the same idea as mine, they do feel that it’s something special for a golden jubilee… and our government obviously thinks the same way too. In fact, the government is so excited about the 50th Merdeka Day that they dumped over RM100 million for the celebrations. [Details]

I am not sure how they spent the money… RM100 million is one huge sum. Imagine the schools and infrastructures that can be built, or the needed people that can be helped using those money.

With 26 million population, the RM100 million tag worked out to about RM4 per person; I would rather see the government distribute all those money to everyone… at least all Malaysians can enjoy a nasi lemak and teh tarik with that, which could be a real happy Merdeka Day celebration for everyone.

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has revealed his “National Higher Education Strategic Plan Beyond 2020″ on Monday (August 27). His main 3 points are…

1. With immediate effect, greater autonomy for universities the chance to upgrade the institutions and source for funds for projects.

2. Introduction of Apex University – to be identified from the existing 23 public universities – would even be allowed to recruit their own faculty and students. Only the best students will be admitted into the apex universities.

3. Audit assessment committees, comprising experts, will be established to evaluate and rate academic achievements in higher institutions of learning.

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It’s reported from Malaysiakini that Ministry of Tourism has spent RM5.7 million to purchase tickets from MST Ad Suria, the private company that runs Eye on Malaysia, the 60-metre high ferries wheel located along the lake in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.

Government has put high hope for the 30-million project, but it is apparent that the landmark is not as popular as they wished. The operation of the Eye was awarded to a private company MST Ad Suria, which is probably losing big bucks at the moment… but no worries; the government is spending millions of Ringgits to rescue them.

It’s good to do business in Malaysia… you get to know somebody from the government, you will get a project that will make big money… and if the project fails… you will still get the money because government will pay you regardless. You sure win, IF you know the right person and right channel.

We are in Malaysia, you can rest assured that no action will be taken to investigate the ministry and the company involved, and even if there is any investigation… our government will probably order to close the case when the investigation is still in premature stage like what we did in a number of corruption allegations.

The main media will not (dare to) report or follow up on the case as usual… and it will become another tiny dust under the carpet. Welcome to Malaysia.