Those who lose govt money will be made to cough it up, says PSD

Officers who cause the Government to lose money due to their negligence will be made to repay a portion of the lost revenue and they may even be sacked.
If there are cases of embezzlement, ministry and department heads have to take the responsibility to report the matter to police so an investigation can be carried out.
These are among the measures introduced by the Public Service Department to ensure that civil servants are held accountable for the losses highlighted by the Auditor-General in the 2010 Report.
The department issued a set of comprehensive guidelines last Tuesday to all ministries and state authorities to refer to before taking action against any guilty party.
PSD director-general Tan Sri Abu Bakar Abdullah said this was decided during a meeting with all secretaries-general and the PSD on Nov 2.
“I hope all ministries will treat this seriously. We need to do this to protect the image of the civil service and to ensure that efforts to enhance the public delivery system are not affected,” he said.
“If there are cases of missing government funds or properties, then an immediate internal probe should be conducted and a final report submitted (to the PSD) within four months,” he said, adding that copies of the report should also be forwarded to the Treasury and the state financial officer.
Abu Bakar said that if the Treasury or the state financial officers felt that the errant officer needed to be slapped with a surcharge or be disciplined, it should then make a recommendation to the respective service commission.
Most civil servants come under the Public Service Commission. However, there are other similar bodies such as the Police Commission and Education Services Commission.
Abu Bakar added that all ministries should provide answers for queries raised by the latest Auditor General's report as well as state if disciplinary or legal action would be instituted against the wrongdoers.
However, arrears or revenue which cannot be collected due to reasons beyond the public servant's control can be written off provided it is approved by the Finance Minister or the respective Mentri Besar/Chief Minister.
Abu Bakar also said a secretary-general or a department head must notify in writing to the Treasury or the state financial officer when and why a particular revenue could not be collected.
Copies should also be sent to the Auditor-General and the Accountant General.
Abu Bakar said the Treasury or the state financial officer was also authorised to appoint officers from other sections in a ministry or department to carry out investigations into financial irregularities or embezzlement.
Ministries or state departments, he said, should obtain in writing whatever information they required from contractors, companies, consultants or individuals in the course of their investigations on alleged wrongdoings.