LETTERS: The Public Service Department should monitor and act against government departments and agencies that fail to follow recent spending instructions by the chief secretary to the government.
The organisation of events, ceremonies, meetings, seminars and workshops is restricted to programmes deemed necessary.
The matter was stated in the Ministry/Department Public Expenditure Control Directive dated Oct 18 to ministry secretaries-general and heads of department and government agencies.
Also stated in the directive is the optimal use of electricity, water and office equipment, and avoiding food and drink waste for meetings or programmes.
In addition, public expenditure should be spent prudently, moderately and in line with the need to reduce the government's financial commitment and avoid wasting resources, according to the directive.
The directive also states that controlling officers must comply with the rules for official travel abroad.
It involves attending meetings, scheduled or periodic discussions, or conferences that have been approved in the annual budget or by the cabinet and deemed essential.
In summary, public money must be spent cautiously. There is no room for carelessness and wastefulness.
If and when that happens, act against those who fail to follow the spending instructions by the chief secretary to the government.
DR MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW
Associate professor, Faculty of Syariah & Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times