Last week, I have asked the Ministry of Tourism to explain why the Ministry had to pay the Shoemakers Association the sum of RM3 million to sponsor the Shoe Festival in April 2010 at PWTC, KL. The Deputy Minister could not give an immediate answer. However, he promised to provide a written reply. Until this date, no written reply was provided. I have brought it up during the Committee Stage about this. It is strange that the Ministry had to donate RM3 million to the SHoemakers Association. What has the Shoemakers Association got to do with Tourism.
I have also brought up the report by Auditor General regarding the unauthorised spending of RM14.7 million for “Program Promosi Produk Khusus”. The report is as follows:
“Sejumlah RM14.7 juta telah dibelanjakan oleh Kementerian Pelancongan bagi membiayai Program Promosi Produk Khusus walaupun tiada peruntukan disediakan. Semakan Audit mendapati waran pindah peruntukan yang diluluskan oleh Pegawai Pegawai Kementerian berkenaan tidak dikemukakan kepada Akautan Negara Malaysia.”
The reply by the Ministry of Tourism is as follow:
“Kementerian Pelancongan memaklumkan telah membuat pindah peruntukan kepada Program Promosi Produk Khusus sebanyak RM14.7 juta bagi membiayai perbelanjaan di bawah program tersebut. Walaubagaimanapun, pihak kementerian dimaklumkan masih tidak dapat mengesan salinan pindah peruntukan yang terlibat.”
What a joke! It would appear that the Ministry does not keep record of important document especially on its unauthorised spending totaling RM14.7 million. I have brought this up in the PM Department in connection with proposed budget for the Jabatan Ketua Audit Negara.
If I do not get a satisfactory reply on this, I shall raised the above in the Ministry of Tourism. I shall also make sure that the “Tourist” Minister will be present to provide answer to her travel expenses totaling RM3.2 million because the Deputy Minister will not be able to answer questions on her traveling expenses on her behalf.
