MALAYSIA Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will be invited to attend future state tender meetings.
Those attending will include the Auditor General to sit at all project award committees under State Tender Board chaired by the State Financial Secretary.
This was said by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg when he delivered his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday.
“I want to repeat to the members of the opposition in the August House. If you wish to challenge us, challenge us with facts and not simply create perception to the public and make character assassination. That is cheap politics.
“I want to call on all Sarawakians not to fall prey to this cheap politics of the opposition. Their objectives are to bring down the government using perception and not using facts because they do not have the facts.
“I am not governing the state for my own personal benefit. This is about our state and our people and our future. This is not the game of cards and I will not allow this state to be destroyed by cheap politics,
“Only the State Tenders Board and The State Cabinet decide on projects to be implemented and not by any government heads.
The State Secretary, The State Financial Secretary, The State Attorney General, permanent secretaries and heads of departments and their officers and the civil servants carry out Cabinet decisions and directions prudently and effectively,Meanwhile, he also said that the Chief Minister’s Department is headed by the State Secretary and assisted by three Deputy State Secretaries and nine Directors heading respective Units. Their tasks are well distributed amongst the officers.
“The State Secretary, State Financial Secretary, State Attorney General, permanent secretaries and heads of departments all sit in Government Boards or GLCs (Government Linked Companies) or other government related outfit as directed by the government and a number of their memberships are statutory requirements provided under the various ordinances, “They are all governed by the respective Boards. Their role is to safeguard government interest.
In their absence they are represented by their Deputies or Directors. On the subject related to the roles and responsibilities of ministers, all the ministerial matters are decided and implemented by the respective ministers and their permanent secretaries and not anyone else.
“All the state’s heads of departments and agencies and the civil servants serve the government of the day and they carry out their duties as directed by the government.
“One must understand in the running of government, one must know the procedures of administration, their roles, area of jurisdiction, limits of authority, statutory requirements, the General Orders and Treasury Instructions and protocols and many more before making accusation against the government system of administration.
“The appointment of the State Secretary, the State Financial Secretary and the State Attorney General is at the discretion of the government as provided under the State Constitution.
“It is not for anyone else including themselves to decide on their tenure. We in the Cabinet are fully satisfied with their performance and they have done their jobs excellently with integrity and efficiency,” he pointed out.
