Call for guidelines on spending funds

2009/11/10

By Farrah Naz Karim and Noor Adzman Baharuddin

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should provide clear guidelines to elected representatives on how government funds are to be spent, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.

As the same time, they should also understand the requirements of the members of parliament and state assemblymen.

"The people expect them to address problems such as school fees, health matters, gatherings and many other woes they face.

"Sometimes this forces them to look at whether or not government allocations can be used. This is something that the MACC should explain to elected representatives," he said after chairing the 21st Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Malaysia Implementation Council meeting here.

He was commenting on the MACC's move to set up a special team to check misappropriation of funds by elected representatives.

In Istanbul, Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said MACC's special team would enhance the present system in the disbursement of funds to elected representatives.

He said it would also help to monitor the disbursement of funds by the elected representatives.

"The commission's decision is within its jurisdiction. For the government and Barisan Nasional, we have been following the present system and we require all elected representatives to adhere to it.

"If the commission wants to give advice and improve the present system, then it is for the better," he said after attending the inaugural Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) summit here.