elizabeth wong

The paper trail vanishes March 18, 2008

C’mon guys. All paperwork, even of MPs and ADUNs (state assemblymen), should be transferred over and there should be a proper transition. Like when an office has new staff coming in or after a company takeover. How about itsy-bit of professionalism here?

Here’s hoping that the incoming Selangor exco won’t be facing the same problems. Does it mean no paperwork = no proof = contract/agreements null and void? Wow, a clean slate 😀

Kedah official papers missing
Monday, 17 March 2008All documents from the offices of the Mentri Besar and executive councillors in Kedah have gone missing.

The PAS-led government which took office after 12th general election on March 8 will lodge a police report based on the findings of an internal investigation.

Mentri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak has appointed state executive councillor Phahrolrazi Zawawi to investigate the case of the missing documents.

“Phahrolrazi will investigate what happened.

“I do not want to accuse people without proof,” said Azizan who found that the Mentri Besar’s office was void of documents after the swearing-in ceremony last Sunday.

The newly appointed executive councillors, who were sworn in on Wednesday, found out the next day that their offices were also empty.

“There is not a single paper left in all the offices. We view this very seriously because the documents belong to the executive council, not to any individual,” said Phahrolrazi.

He said most of the documents were classified.

“We are questioning the government officers on duty. No one has a right to transfer the documents without permission,” he said.

Phahrolrazi said the former executive councillors did not have the right to enter the offices without permission.

“We need the minutes of the meetings to check the progress of projects and other matters that were discussed at the executive council meetings,” he said. – THE STAR

Penang excos start work in ‘bare’ offices
Bernard Cheah and Opalyn Mok

PENANG (March 17, 2008): The new state executive councillors (excos) started their first week in office to govern with a clean sheet, literally.

They found their offices cleared of all government documents and minutes of the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government. All records of projects, completed or current, approved by the previous government are missing.

Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said: “The action taken by the previous excos have hindered our work.”

“They (the previous exco) claim the documents are ‘personal property’ and cleared the offices,” he told reporters.

The new line-up would have to get copies of the documents from the state secretary’s office.

“We have the resources to track down these documents. They (state secretary office) would still have copies of whatever ‘approval’ documents. If the documents are not approved yet, they still have to come back to the exco for approval,” he said.

Public Works, Utilities and Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said “we have to start from scratch”.

“We will have to go and get copies from various department heads on previous projects,” he said.

Phee said the previous exco members did not follow the conduct of former Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon who has been a gentleman all the way.

“If they (the previous exco) really loved the people, they should not have used such obstructions to try and stop us,” said Phee.

In Alor Star, the PAS-led Kedah government also found all documents in the offices of the Mentri Besar and excos missing when they took office after the 12th General Election on March 8.

Mentri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak has appointed state executive councillor Phahrolrazi Zawawi to probe the case of “missing government documents”.

He also said a police report will be lodged after the “internal probe”. – THE SUN