It also found a loss of public funds totalling RM11.45 million and a waste of RM8.87 million to the government in 2020.

The payments amounted to RM500,000 in 2020 and RM1.4 million in 2019.

The auditor-general has submitted 29 recommendations – four for verification of financial statements and 25 for compliance audits of federal ministries and departments.

Overall, the audit found that the implementation of government activities, projects and programmes had been done according to the set objectives although issues of inefficiency and non-compliance remained as well.

The latest Auditor-General's Report says the money was given to welfare agencies, and not to those involved in the propagation of Islam.

The two helicopters, 9M-PHA and 9M-PHF, had been grounded for more than three years between 2017 and 2019.