MPS RAISE MYDIGITAL ID, UKM REVENUE ISSUES IN DEBATE ON AUDITOR-GENERAL’S REPORT

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- The implementation of MyDigital ID, including issues related to governance, auditing and the direction of the national digital identity project, as well as disclosures related to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) fee revenue, were among matters raised by the majority of Members of Parliament (MPs) during the debate on the Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) 1/2026 motion in the Dewan Rakyat today.

On MyDigital ID, most MPs demanded that the relevant ministries explain the actual amount of allocation provided and approved for its implementation, following the LKAN revealing that RM28.13 million in funds had been spent not in accordance with the steering committee’s decision.

Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) said the allocation involved a large sum and needed to be explained to the public, while also proposing that the National Audit Department audit the special purpose vehicle (SPV), MyDigital ID Sdn Bhd, which is also involved in managing the project’s implementation.

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“The Auditor-General’s Report raised the issue of MIMOS (Bhd) expenditure for salary payments, because based on the Federal Government’s Operating Expenditure Estimates Book for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, there was no operating allocation for MyDigital ID Sdn Bhd to pay employees’ salaries or operational costs.

“The report also states that development allocations for the project cannot be used for salary payments and management costs...we need an explanation,” he said during the session.

Echoing the view, Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) said the issue of MIMOS Bhd expenditure involving salary payments for employees of MyDigital ID Sdn Bhd raised doubts in terms of compliance and financial governance.

Meanwhile, Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang) said the more than RM28 million spent without the committee’s approval was not a minor technical issue but one involving procedural compliance, financial discipline and the integrity of the internal control system.

In this regard, he proposed that all national strategic projects using the special purpose vehicle model be subjected to a full audit, including a forensic audit, as well as periodic disclosures to Parliament on the physical and financial progress of the projects.

On a separate matter, the government was urged to formulate regulations or laws requiring government-owned companies to pay dividends to the Federal Government if they recorded profits, following the disclosure in LKAN 1/2026 that 13 companies had failed to do so despite making profits.

Hassan Abdul Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) said there was currently no legal provision requiring government-linked companies to distribute dividends to the government, resulting in dividend payments being made without a uniform and binding mechanism, even though the companies were under the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

“In 2022, only 15 out of more than 100 government-owned companies paid dividends directly to the Federal Government, with the largest contribution coming from Petronas, amounting to RM50 billion that year and RM40 billion in 2023,” he said.

Also drawing attention from several MPs was the issue of serious non-compliance in the management of student fee revenue collection and expenditure involving the UKM Centre for Shaping Advanced and Professional Education (UKMShape).

Following this, Azli Yusof (PH-Shah Alam) proposed that a comprehensive review be carried out on all fee collection agreements involving third parties at public institutions of higher learning (IPTAs).

“Students’ fee money is a trust. It does not belong to any individual or other entity, but belongs to the institution to be utilised for students’ welfare and academic development,” he said when debating the report.

The same issue was raised by Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah), who described the disclosure involving the IPTA as embarrassing and called for drastic action to ensure the issue did not recur or affect other institutions.

LKAN 1/2026, which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, revealed 273 new issues involving financial management and governance at the federal and state levels raised in the Federal Agencies Financial Statements 2024, covering the activities of ministries, departments and federal statutory bodies as well as those of departments and agencies at the state level, including the management of state government companies.

-- BERNAMA