Probe on state secretary: MACC slighted for inaction
The Malay Mail Online – 9 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- Kedah State Secretary Datuk Wira Mohd Puat Mohd Ali (centre) with other state administrators. …
PETALING JAYA, Aug 14 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday maintained that a top civil servant had broken the Kedah Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 2007.
It said it will request a written explanation as to why he was let off the hook.
Following Malay Mail’s front page expose headlined “Probed by MACC, made state secretary”, the MACC confirmed that a letter and report were sent to the Kedah state secretary on May 13 last year pertaining to an investigation on Datuk Wira Mohd Puat Mohd Ali.
Investigations by the commission revealed that Mohd Puat, who was then the state financial officer, had awarded three roadworks contracts worth RM980,000 each to three companies without referring them to the state secretary or during the state council meetings.
MACC also deemed Mohd Puat’s actions to be a “conflict of interest” as one of the contractors used another firm to carry out renovations to his brother-in-law’s house, which he later moved into.
“MACC had then suggested that disciplinary action be taken against him as the state financial officer when the investigations took place,” it said in a statement.
“Based on our records, MACC received feedback from the state secretary’s office on June 2, 2013, stating the matter should be referred to the state Public Services Department.”
Despite the investigations, Mohd Puat was named the new state secretary, replacing Datuk Wira Rasli Basir, on June 5, 2013.
MACC went on to confirm its deputy public prosecutor had declared that disciplinary action be taken under the 2007 Regulations.
“However, if true as reported that Mohd Puat was let off the hook, MACC is slighted and will request for a written explanation from the appropriate authority as to why he was let free,” it said.
The statement, which was signed off by director of investigation Datuk Mohd Jamidan Abdullah, ended by saying MACC did not have the authority to instruct or influence if the concerned authority decided to let him go.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the Public Services Department in Putrajaya since Monday proved futile.
State Public Services Department secretary Ahmad Termizi Abdul Rani said he was unaware of the report, adding he only assumed duties from Sharhida Nazuha on Sunday, as reported yesterday. Sharhida declined to comment when contacted.
Mohd Puat, when contacted on Tuesday, claimed he was investigated by the state Public Services Department and was cleared of any wrongdoing. He said there was a concerted move to get rid of him and that his services would be not extended when he retired on November 4.
