KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has cancelled a request from government ministries and agencies to send 68 civil servants to an exhibition in Berlin, Germany.
Anwar said this was due to a breach of regulations and involved public funds.
“Despite tickets for hotels and flights being arranged, I cancelled it because the number of people registered was excessive. Only a small number may be required for the task.
“This is a violation of the rules. This is public money, and we must be accountable.
“Yesterday, I met with the chief secretary to the government (Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar), the director-general of public service (Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz), all chief secretaries, and heads of departments to reiterate the government’s stance and request their cooperation in this matter,” he said at today’s press conference after Friday prayers at the Darussalam Mosque here.
Anwar also said that all projects, visits, and overseas assignments involving government ministries, companies, and agencies must be referred to the chief secretary of the ministry and the head of department, respectively, and obtain approval from the relevant minister.
He explained that the decision to obtain ministerial approval was made because there were boards within companies or government agencies that were seen to be making decisions in their own interests.
He also stressed that all ministers must be accountable for any approvals granted.
“Ministers who wish to visit any country must submit a proposal to the Cabinet, and we will usually re-evaluate whether it is necessary to bring certain staff or if there is no need at all,” he said.
“Or it is better to postpone the visit and combine it with the Prime Minister’s visit, where a memorandum of understanding (MoU) can also be signed at the same event.
“This will save money,” he said, adding that reforms within the government must be ongoing and that any violation of these efforts cannot be allowed to happen. – September 20, 2024