It's The Same Heaven And Hell

The Star 25th October 2011

So, the Auditor-General's report for 2010 is finally out! I had asked where was the Auditor-General's report?

This time around (surprise!) it seems that the rating for most government departments has improved. As cynics, Malaysians may wonder whether the delay in the release of the report has "something" to do with the "improved" rating.

Of course Malaysians are not pursuing this line out of respect for the Auditor-General's department which is still considered as one of the more independent government bodies left.

However, abuses stilled abounded. A government agency had been reported to have spent RM142 million for a remote sensing satellite that could not do its work for being 37km off target! and the problem has still not be rectified. This reminds me of the submarine we bought that cost billions and yet could not dive!

Or the case of a government department that paid RM11,800. for a RM3,400. laptop and printer! And RM56,350. for a night vision binoculars that should have cost only RM1,940. or so!

Or the case of a sports institute that bought 23 horses for RM5.66 million without approval from the Ministry of Finance and none of the horses were used in two recommended international championships! So, why were the horses bought in the first place nobody knows for sure.

Or the case where new scientific equipment costing more than RM64 million were bought and left in their boxes for some three years without being put to use and additional money to the tune of some RM18 million had to be spent to extend their guarantee period before a laboratory could be built for their use!

Overall, according to the Auditor-General's report, nine ministries and government departments had overspent some RM3.7 billions!

I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

The government, as usual, will promise hell to those responsible for the mismanagement and wastage but as usual heaven will be the order of the day and next year Malaysians can expect to be treated to another annals horribilis.

We long suffering Malaysians are fed up with the way the government departments, ministries and agencies use our hard earned money in such irresponsible and cavalier manner year in and year out without any action being taken against the culprits for the massive wastage and mismanagement while we are told to tighten our already impossible-to-further-tighten belts.