KUALA LUMPUR – The Human Resources Ministry will conduct an independent audit on the Human Resources Development Corporation (HRD Corp) following alleged irregularities in reports by the National Audit Department and parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Minister Steven Sim said he instructed the audit on HRD Corp’s operations from 2019 to 2023.
“To ensure transparency, third party professional auditors will be appointed.
“The independent audit will examine all processes, procedures, documentation and compliance with the law and with guidelines on the issues raised in the Audit Department and PAC reports,” he said in a statement.
The ministry is now in the process of appointing a third-party auditor and this will be done by July 31, at the latest, Sim said.
The length of the audit process will be determined after the independent auditor is appointed.
The independent audit will go hand in hand with investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and other authorities. HRD Corp has been instructed to provide full cooperation to all relevant parties,” Sim added.
He also said the ministry has formed a special task force chaired by its secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud to facilitate ongoing investigations, and to study the Audit Department and PAC report.
MACC yesterday said it was probing HRD Corp for criminal elements following irregularities highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report.
The anti-graft agency visited the HRD Corp office in Jalan Beringin, to obtain documents related to its probe.
Last week, the Auditor General’s report on HRD Corp highlighted irregularities, such as the alleged misuse of levies collected from employers meant for training purposes that were instead spent on investments and assets purchases.
The PAC also revealed a levy collection totalling RM3.77 billion from employers using HRD Corp in various investment activities. – July 10, 2024