Tsunami Donations kept somewhere?

First, it was reported in the Auditor-General 2005 Report that highlighted the misuse of some money collected for tsunami victims.

Among the observations made was shoddy workmanship and inefficient management of the RM9.82 million used to build and repair houses for tsunami victims in Kedah and Penang. There were also allegations of mismanagement of funds for the repair and purchase of fishing nets, outboard motors and boats.

At the Parliament, Nazri reported that a total of 78.95 million was collected for the tsunami victims. When the tsunami account was closed on May 31, 2005, RM51.39 million had been spent to finance relief and humanitarian aid.

Money collected for tsunami victims were transferred to the National Disaster Relief Fund, administered under the Prime Minister’s Department and disbursed to the respective district offices in their respective areas. According to Nazri the PM’s dept could not accept responsibility for the shoddy works and mismanagement. Tenders for the construction of houses was called by other authorities and Nazri said the PM’s dept should not be held responsible if there were fault.

In the Auditor-General Report, an excess of RM6.7 million had yet to be returned to the treasury as required by procedure.

Nazri said that there were no excess funds to be returned. “We have closed the accounts; there’s none,” Nazri said.


The story changed a two days later.

DPM Najib said that the unused RM28m of tsunami aid fund sent back to the Treasury.

How come? Didn't Nazri said there was no excess fund? Najib said there was. Who lied?

According to Najib, RM51.4mil from the RM78.8mil collected for the special fund for tsunami aid has been allocated to state governments, ministries and government agencies to carry out relief work. That means there were RM27.4 million leftover.

DPM Najib said “the balance of about RM28mil has been returned to the Treasury.”

“I'd like to state that the amount that has to be returned (to the Treasury) has been returned,” Najib said.

Najib said the fund had also been closed according to procedures.

Now, the story changed again?

So many version?

Which is the truth and which are lies?

Today's NST reported that the
‘Missing’ tsunami funds being kept by some govt agencies.

THE RM6.7 million allegedly "missing" from the tsunami victims fund is actually with several government implementation agencies. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said the Auditor-General had explained this in a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.He also read an excerpt of the letter to Dewan Rakyat yesterday. It stated:

"...what I reported in the Auditor-General’s Report 2005 was that the excess money from the National Disaster Funds amounting to RM6.7 million is still being kept by the implementation agencies or are not utilised based on the stated aims as mentioned in the letter of authority for expenditure issued by the Treasury."

The Auditor-General also explained that the money from the National Disaster Fund had been disbursed to victims of floods, fires and storms between 2002 and 2005. The Auditor-General, however, said money for tsunami victims had not been well managed. This had led to problems such as delays in the sending of equipment and building of houses, he said.

First thing First!

Nazri, Najib and Pak Lah often talk about policies and principles. Sothinathan and Ong Tee Keat were both doing the right thing but were punished because they did not follow policies and principles strictly.

Here in this case, the policies and procedures is that the excess of RM6.7 million must be returned to the treasury as required by procedure which was not done accordingly. What's the use of policies and procedures when they are not to be followed?

The Auditor-General reported that the RM6.7 million is still being kept by the implementation agencies or are not utilised based on the stated aims as mentioned in the letter of authority for expenditure issued by the Treasury.

But according to Najib and Nazri, the tsunami account was closed. DPM Najib said “the balance of about RM28mil has been returned to the Treasury.

How can the account be closed when procedures are not followed and money is still left with the implementation agencies and not returned to the treasury? Najib said the money was returned to the treasury of which the Auditor-General reported that it was still with the Implementation Agency.

Isn't there a catch? 22?

What is the sanctions for false reporting? The 2-Ns had made misstatement and misrepresentation in Parliament. Who is accountable and who is responsible? Oh, it looks like no one... at all!!!

Is the govt a trustworthy body to manage donation money, or for that matter, to manage public's money?

I don't know how to answer. Readers can form their own opinion.

In fact, there are many more hypothesis that can be forwarded if we read the complete A-G Report. I am too tired to comment.

Maybe, the govt is right... they are IN CONTROL! Pak Lah is still IN CONTROL! RATS are in control.

em, *sniff, sniff* Did they used the money to buy ECM-Libra shares? Smell anything obnoxious? Semua OK!