Lim said that the recently released AG's Report which showed that Penang had improved in its cash (16.7 percent) and asset (7.4 percent) flow for 2009 was a “validation and confirmation” that the administration was competent, accountable and transparent (CAT).
According to the report, Penang put in a good performance to increase its cash flow to RM539 million in 2009, and its asset position from RM1.026 million to RM1.120 million, despite facing an economic downturn last year.
Lim (right) said this was possible because since the Pakatan Rakyat government took over Penang in 2008, it has introduced new budgetary controls which emphasised not only on CAT governance, but also on productivity, efficiency and integrity.
“Our main budgetary tools include item line accounting, open tender system and risk management, which is practised for the first time” he told reporters at a press conference in Penang.
Malaysiakini reported today that in the AG's report, Penang has hit arecord high in state revenues for the second time this year, collecting RM1.1 billion in accumulated funds for the whole of 2009.
Penang - the only Pakatan state to receive the 'baik' (good) accreditation in their financial standing - collected 29.1 percent more in actual revenue, bringing their tally to RM376.51 million.
In 2008, the state government had already shattered records when it surpassed the billion-ringgit mark in accumulated funds as shown in the previous Audit Report, collecting a total of RM1.025 billion.
Under the previous BN state government, the accumulated funds, which are a combination of revenue accounts, loan accounts and trust funds, were at RM847.45 million for 2007.
The revenue collection also increased from strength to strength, showing the most significant jump from RM296 million in 2007 to RM371 million in 2008. The collection for 2009 stands at RM376 million.
Pointers on practising CAT
Meanwhile, Lim gave a few pointers on how to go about practising the CAT governance in the administration.
Lim said such a governance was based on the question of whether one is 'productive, efficient, and uphold integrity'.
“What we also always ask is that whether things can be done in a shorter time. If we can do things in 30 minutes, why do it for an hour?” he queried.
“If we can do a volume of work in one hour, why don't we increase that volume 1.5 times more during the same period of time?” he added.
Lim said productivity meant that for every ringgit spent, one has to get as much value in return.
This, he added, was related to government projects, where his administration will ensure that it can always get value for money.
“During the implementation, for expenditure made, we always ask: Is it extravagant? Is it a waste? Is it corruption?” he queried.
“For example, the 100-storey tower (proposed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak) is too extravagant. Why do we need a 100-storey building?” he ased.
“And how about the RM65 million for the renovation of the PM's official residence? This is wastage,” he added.
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