KUALA LUMPUR: Reports of financial irregularities and wastage totalling RM64.1mil involving several ministries will be probed by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

       Its chairman Wong Kah Woh (pic) said the committee took note of the issue raised in the Auditor-General’s (AG) 2020 Report and will decide on a date to start soon.

       “The PAC seriously views the A-G’s report, which had a case involving wastage of public money amounting to RM2.81mil, another involving RM16.77mil and a third amounting to RM44.53mil,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday (March 22).

       The cases of wastage involved Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s service upgrading project under the Transport Ministry, a new energy development project under the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and a system linked to the employment of expatriates under the Home Affairs and Human Resources ministries, he added.

       Besides this, he said, the A-G’s report also identified four projects that did not achieve their intended objectives.

       Wong added the report also noted the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) had made improper dividend payments amounting to RM600mil.

       The bi-partisan PAC had earlier summoned three deputy auditor-generals, namely Patimah Ramuji (Performance), Datuk Nor Salwani Muhammad (Finance), and Roslan Abu Bakar (Companies), to brief them on the report.

       “The PAC will hold a special meeting to look in detail at the issues raised and will commence proceedings after getting a unanimous decision to begin its probe,” Wong added.

       The PAC noted a total of 682 issues were detected under the A-G’s report.

       Of this, five issues could result in punitive action while 677 issues may require corrective actions by the respective ministries and agencies.