PUTRAJAYA: The Finance Ministry (MoF) should be an institution that is feared for its strict principle of good governance, much like the Inland Revenue Board which taxpayers are afraid of.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the ministry should send a clear message that it would not tolerate any nonsense, particularly bids by certain quarters to gain richness.
"The MoF must bank on strict good governance that it does not allow any efforts to enrich oneself by cheating and taking advantage of contracts because this has happened a lot before.
"I want the MoF to discharge their duties sternly in terms of procurements, allocation distribution and have a more transparent financial (management) principle.
"This should be a huge mission to fight power abuse and misappropriation and whatever said by the government or the opposition who are trying to disparage this matter.
"I want to say that this (good governance principle) is a serious matter in the country. If we do not do it well, we will fail," he said at the ministry's monthly assembly today.
Also present were deputy finance minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican.
Anwar said it was vital for MoF to bring the message of change and it should not be only a slogan or based on the Malaysia Madan concept, but base on their will to transform and to make Malaysia a great nation in the region and world.
He also expressed hope for MoF to emerge as a ministry known for its good governance, ingenuity and will in its service and commitment.