Ambrin to audit all federal ministries: Salahuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no escape for errant civil servants as the special investigation committee headed by former Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang will be looking into a full audit of all ministries, according to Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub.
He said the decision to audit all federal ministries was made during Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.
Salahuddin added that this is on top of all the internal audits conducted by the respective ministries.
"The Cabinet also decided to tackle the issue of monopoly at all ministries therefore a Cabinet level special committee involving several ministries has been set up and it would be helmed by Economic Affairs Minister Azmin," he said at a press conference at the Farmers Organisation Authority here today.
He said the committee will look into organisations such as Bernas, Puspakom, and Pharmaniaga, to name some.
He said this pro-active action to look into the monopolistic control is aimed at keeping Pakatan Harapan's election pledge, as well as ensuring that the public gets a fair deal.
Salahuddin said they will be holding a series of discussions with Syarikat Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) and all other stakeholders to study Bernas' monopoly over the country's rice supply, including its sole right to import rice until 2021.
He said the ministry had set up three committees to come up with plans to either replace or retain Bernas and they will have to submit their report by mid-August.
"We will meet after that to come up with a comprehensive plan which will be submitted to the Cabinet committee which will discuss it before submitting it to the Cabinet," Salahuddin said.
He said they were not looking at a piecemeal solution in regards to Bernas, therefore all stakeholders including Bernas, Padi Rescue and others are welcome to give their views.
Salahuddin said this issue comes down to food security and the government wants to be careful when reaching a decision because it does not want to burden the public.