KUALA LUMPUR: Engage private auditors to carry out second audits on government departments’ accounts, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

       The former prime minister made the suggestion following the losses of RM273mil involving a project by the Customs Department which was highlighted in the Auditor-General’s 2019 Report (Series 2).

       “A government audit may not be sufficient.

       “That is why there are times when we should get private auditors to carry out a second audit of accounts kept by the government departments,” he said when debating the 12th Malaysia Plan in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Sept 30).

       He said it would be better to spend for a second audit instead of losing huge amounts of money.

       “It is not to say we want to give them (private audit firms) contracts.

       “But between losing huge sums of money and spending for the audits, I think we should choose to spend in order to save our money,” he added.

       On Tuesday (Sept 28), the A-G Report revealed that the Customs Department had made payments totalling RM272.99mil for the uCustoms online system which was not functioning.

       The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have since said that they would probe the losses.

       On a separate matter, Dr Mahathir took a veiled swipe at lawmakers who were facing court charges and yet still came to the Dewan Rakyat.

       “The rule of law seems to be different now as we find that there are a lot of lawmakers who are guilty, yet are still elected representatives advising the government on how to spend its budget.

       “They attend Dewan Rakyat and make long speeches but have no time to attend court.

       “This is the situation now which we need to remember, that priority is given to speeches in Dewan Rakyat and not about facing judgement in court,” he added.

       While he didn’t name them, Dr Mahathir was likely referring to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who took part in the debates on the 12th Malaysia Plan. Najib is facing money-laundering charges involving RM27mil linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

       Last July, Najib was found guilty of corruption linked to the 1MDB scandal and was sentenced to 12 years jail.

       He is appealing the case.