Pahang govt receives RM52 mln from GLCs after tackling revenue leakage

KUANTAN, Oct 26  -- The Pahang government has garnered RM52 million in revenue from the state’s 40 government-linked companies this year, after managing to tackle the issue of revenue leakage.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the revenue had also increased from RM20 million the previous year and RM12 million in 2019 when the state government received the returns from the GLCs for the first time.

"This shows that the GLCs could contribute to the state government’s coffers which could assist the people in many ways like giving land to those doing business.

“If managed well, there will be no leakage, the GLCs’ finances will be good and can thus contribute to the state government. 

"The contributions can be used to help the people in situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Pahang is among the states where the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) has mainly be enforced and the people assisted through the giving of food baskets.”

Wan Rosdy said this at a media conference after the presentation of the state’s Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption Awards (AIGA) 2020 at Kompleks Yayasan Pahang, here, today with the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali also present.

Asked on the state government’s intention to limit the period of service or use the rotation system on the senior officials to reduce the risk of leakage, he said this was a good suggestion but it should suit the situations such as the expertise of the individuals involved in leading the GLCs.

“So far, all the Pahang GLCs have been on the right track, with not even one listed as a ‘red flag’ with regard to leakage, but improvements always must be made to prevent opportunities for corruption which can arise from weaknesses in the system.

"I had seen that people started well until they saw the opportunity (for corruption). In fact, l had ordered a forensic audit be conducted on a GLC which each year recorded tens of millions of ringgit in losses while its business activities were going on. 

"When investigated, there were those who resigned. This had brought losses in revenue to the state government and people in general while benefiting the few involved (in the misappropriation). This needs to be improved as everyone should have integrity,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mohd Zuki in his speech said the AIGA, held for the first time in Pahang, would be proposed to be held at the national level as a benchmark of Malaysia’s success in raising the levels of integrity, governance and anti-corruption, especially in the public sector. 

“This effort can help the country improve its ranking in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in future. For the record, Malaysia's position in the Transparency International CPI 2020 dropped to 57th from 51st in 2019.

"Hopefully, AIGA 2020 will create a healthy competition for the public and private sectors in creating the best mechanism in making integrity, good governance and anti-corruption a culture in an organisation and as a benchmark for other organisations,” he said. 

The AIGA 2020 involved 41 organisations in Pahang with 11 of these receiving the gold award including the Cameron Highlands District Council, Pahang Skills Development Centre and the state’s Public Works Department, 14 more receiving the silver award and eight the bronze award.

-- BERNAMA