PAC calls for special audit of medical expenditure throughout pandemic

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has urged the National Audit Department to conduct an immediate special audit of government procurement and expenditure for medical equipment and medicine during the Covid-19 pandemic.

PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said the auditor-general was officially informed of the matter yesterday.

“As a Dewan Rakyat Select Committee with the mandate to examine government spending so that it complies with the law, government financial regulations in force, contract terms and payments being implemented properly, PAC will not compromise with any party trying to make a profit for the sake of personal interests.

“This special audit should be expedited, with the findings and results presented to PAC so that the committee can identify the existence of elements of malpractice, waste and abuse of power in the procurement of medical services,” he said in a statement today.

He said with the special audit, PAC would call on the finance ministry, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the ministries and agencies involved to provide briefings and explanations to the committee on the matter.

For that purpose, he said, PAC would use its authority under Standing Orders 77 (1) (d) and 77 (5) of the Dewan Rakyat, and Section III, Article 11 (b) of the General Circular No. 2 (1982).

Standing Order 77(1)(d) of the Dewan Rakyat states that there shall be a committee known as the Public Accounts Committee appointed at the beginning of every Parliament for the examination of such matters as the committee may think fit, or which may be referred to the committee by the House; while Standing Order 77(5) states that the committee shall have the power to send for persons, papers and records, and to report from time to time.

PAC also urged the National Audit Department to conduct a special audit following the statement by MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki on May 24, on the MACC’s ongoing investigation into the procurement of medical equipment and medicine; abuse of power in diverting aid; as well as stimulus packages provided by the government.