Nine ministries or departments had overspent their operating allocation for last year by a total of RM3.73bil, the Auditor-General's Report 2010 said.
There are the Education Ministry, Health Ministry, Home Ministry, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry, Public Service Department, Attorney-General's Department, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Public Services Commission.
The report said feedback from the affected ministries and department showed that they had practised a thrifty policy but the overspending was due to unavoidable circumstances due to increased activities and unscheduled payments.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein today warned civil servants of severe action if they put the country's security at risk in attempts to gain riches for themselves.
Referring to the seven immigration officers who were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) three days ago for allegedly working in cahoots with international human trafficking syndicates, he said the government will not compromise on those who betrayed the country with devious plots to gain wealth.
He said the ISA was invoked on the men as the matter involved national security.
The ruined remains of the suspension bridge after it collapsed, leaving three schoolchildren dead.
Muhyiddin admits Kampar bridge construction flawed
The fathers of the three pupils who drowned in the Kuala Dipang bridge tragedy on Oct 26 have filed a RM105 million suit alleging negligence on the part of 10 parties.
K.Mageswaran, K.Vasudevan and T. Nathan named as defendants the headmasters of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Mambang Diawan and SJKT Gopeng; the head of the Kinta Selatan district education office; the Perak State Education Department director; Kampar District Council president; Perak Public Works Department director and the commandant of the 1Malaysia Camp in Kuala Dipang.
Others are the donor of the suspension bridge that collapsed in the tragedy GS Synergy Sdn Bhd, CWL Enterprise which is the contractor responsible for the construction of the bridge, the Education Minister and the Government of Malaysia.
The suit was filed through the law firm of Messrs A.Sivanesan & Co. at 10.22am today the High Court registrar's office here.
Besides seeking RM35 million in general damages for each of the victim, the plaintiffs respectively also want RM19,120 in special damages, RM100,000 in exemplary damages, interest at eight per cent from the date of the children's drowning till the realisation of payments, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Among others, the plaintiffs cited lack of lighting in the area, lack of supervision by the persons responsible for the safety of the pupils attending the 1Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang organised by the Kinta Selatan district education office , non-provision of life jackets and not ensuring that the bridge was safe for use as contributing to the deaths of their children.
Their children, M. Devatharshini, 11, V. Divyashree, 12, and N. Dinadevi, 11, drowned in the Kampar River after they fell into it when the suspension bridge collapsed as they were crossing it together with scores of other pupils attending the camp.
In an immediate reaction, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the parents had the right to file the suit.
"We (government) cannot stop them from pursuing this action as they lost their loved ones in the tragedy," he told reporters here today.
However, he cautioned against the tragedy being used for political mileage and some people trying to be "champions" in the matter.
On another matter, Zambry said the state government was in the process of working out a mechanisn to channel education aid of RM200 for each child born in Perak next year and that it would most likely be in the form of a savings account.
Education Ministry to defend from lawsuits
The Education Ministry will defend itself against a suit filed by the fathers of the three pupils who drowned in the suspension bridge collapse tragedy in Kuala Dipang on Oct 26.
Deputy Education Minister, Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, said during the camping programme regulations and safety steps determined by the ministry were followed.
"Just that on the bridge collapse, we leave it to the Public Works Department (PWD) to investigate and take action as the bridge was not built by the state education department," he told reporters after officiating the 55th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Peninsular Malaysia Malay Students (GPMS) here on Saturday.
Yesterday, the fathers of the three pupils filed a RM105 million suit alleging negligence on the part of 10 parties.
Among defendants named are the the Government of Malaysia, the Education Minister, the Perak State Education Department director, the head of the Kinta Selatan district education office, headmasters of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Mambang Diawan and SJKT Gopeng.
The suit was filed through the law firm of Messrs A.Sivanesan & Co. at 10.22am today at the High Court registrar's office here. Sivanesan is the state assemblyman for Sungkai from the DAP.
In the incident, the three pupils were part of a group of 298 Year Four, Five and Six from the Kinta Selatan district for a 1Malaysia Camp for four days at the Kinta Selatan District Education Office's Co-Curriculum Centre.
Dr Mohd Puad said the ministry will ensure from time to time that safety characteristcs for the camping programmes organised by the private sector were adhered to.
SHAH ALAM: There is evidence that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers physically and psychologically abuse witnesses and suspects during questioning, a lawyer told the inquest into Teoh Beng Hock’s death.
“The witness will identify the MACC officers involved. However, I cannot reveal the name of the witness now because of security reasons,” said Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for the political aide’s family, said he had in his possession police reports and photographs of injuries suffered by an individual to support his claim.
Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was summoned to the state MACC office located at the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam on July 15, to be questioned about alleged irregular disbursement of state funds. He was found dead the following day on the fifth floor.
Accusation leveled are :- Oofficers took turns to slap an individual, blindfolded and forced him to strip naked. Also alleged to have wrapped an iron rod in newspapers and hit the man in the stomach, buttocks, hands and legs.Also said to have been kicked in the stomach and a cane was used to hit his private parts and feet.
Gobind made these allegations when questioning Selangor MACC assistant enforcement officer Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus.
He told coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas that the person would be called to testify what had happened to him when Selangor MACC officers interrogated him at their office in Plaza Masalam, the same place where Teoh’s body was found on July 16.
Can this report be used? Earlier, MACC counsel Datuk Abdul Razak Musa said the police report should not be allowed into the inquest as it was not relevant to the case, pointing out that this would open up the floodgates which would divert the proceedings from focusing on finding out the cause of Teoh’s death.
Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas, who gave Gobind the green light to use the police report to frame his questions, explained to Mohd Ashraf his rights as a witness in the inquest.
“You have the right not to answer if you feel that the questions may implicate you,” said Azmil Muntapha.
The inquest was adjourned to Sept 8.
Candle vigil was held , seeking answer for Teoh death.
Mr Teoh seen here holding the hp.Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah(centre)
Malaysia Forensic team , processing teoh body at MACC building.
Teoh body found at the MACC buiding at 5th floor , believed to be drop from 13 floor.
Teoh family members performing burial rites at the site of the Teoh body.
A protester scuffles with policemen during a protest outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building in Shah Alam on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 17. Malaysian police fired tear gas and water cannons, and arrested dozens of demonstrators Saturday in an attempt to disperse a mass street protest against draconian internal security laws.
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More than 3,000 people have packed the Kelana Jaya stadium in a two-hour gathering to mark the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock. Pakatan Rakyat top brass, including Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, took turns to address the crowd.
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Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas who is hearing the inquest on the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock is this morning visiting Plaza Massalam in Shah Alam where the state MACC office is located.
Azmil arrived at the building at about 9.50am and headed straight to the 14th floor of the building. He was accompanied by lawyers, court officials and other personnel.
Reporters were however not allowed to join in the scene-visit nor enter the MACC office. They have been asked to wait at the lift lobby. Teoh's body was found on the fifth-floor corridor of the building a day after he was taken in for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on July 15.
