Finally there’s some light being casted on the way public funds are used (read: abused).

My question is, how did one get an office in the Local Council? With proper qualifications or with proper connections? I am alright if you have both, but if you only have the latter, I don’t think you can manage your own bank account, let alone the public’s.

I suggest that whenever public funds, decisions should be “vetoed” by the people ala democracy (Of course, assuming that the voting process is “transparent”!) Hey, it’s the people’s money anyway, so at least let the majority take part in the decision making process. So, a “Local Rakyat Committee” that is not linked to the Local Authority should be setup to protect the interest of the people, since the Local Authority which was appointed to do that has failed to perform their duties.It’s like hiring security guards in residential areas, you just can’t rely on the “mata-mata” anymore.

All project details should also be properly disclosed and family members and relatives of the Local Councils are not allowed to participate in any tenders (sounds like those contest where staff members are not allowed to participate in contests organized by their own Company). I mean there could be loopholes in that, but at least it helps obstruct a little the possible abuse of public fund.

All contractors should also be rated according to their reputation, credibility and financial status. This would ensure that they don’t bail out with excused like rising cost and economic downturn (a reliable contractor would have taken all these factors into account).

New Straits Times on Local Councils Public Fund Management 101…

* Kuala Lumpur City Hall spending RM10.5 million over five years on trips abroad for its officials; RM33.4 million to buy vehicles; and RM5 million to fete its employees;

* A RM350,000 flagpole erected at the Ipoh Padang;

* The Seberang Prai Municipal Council gave a multi-million ringgit contract for the supply of fresh flowers to its office;

* A bus and taxi terminal in Cameron Highlands not built to specifications by the district council;

* The Selayang Municipal Council sending some officers and others on a “foreign study” tour although it had no money;

* The Selayang Municipal Council, again, forcing residents to buy bins from it or risk not having their rubbish collected;

* Subang Jaya Municipal Council directing all eateries to engage the services of a seven-company consortium providing pest control services at exhorbitant fees. And the seven were not even registered with the National Association of Pest Control Companies;

* Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Kangar Municipal Council and Malacca Historical City Council had their offices sealed for failing to adhere to court decisions;

* The Petaling Jaya City Council failing to pay salaries to its football coaches and players in the Super League. No one at the council has justified the need to have a team with its foreign players earning five-figure salaries.

Progress is possible only with accountability and credibility!

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