KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — A student body today pressed University of Malaya’s (UM) management to explain nearly RM13 million that is now unaccounted for.

The University of Malaya Student Council (PMUM) pointed out that the latest release of the Auditor General’s Report showed that RM 12.92 million was missing because the management did not keep track of its yearly expenditure.

“The annual assets evaluation is not done properly resulting in RM12.92 million of the list of assets maintained by the Accounts Division could not be detected during the audit.

“The explanation given by the management is not sufficient and we demand a detailed account,” PMUM president Mohamad Ammar Atan told Malay Mail Online today.

Ammar added that there was also poor governance by the university’s management, which he claimed did not follow procedures when it came to allocating funds, including awarding a contract worth half a million ringgit without tender.

“The procurement to organise events worth RM 610,835 was awarded without any bidding or the formation of a Rate Quotation Committee and without the approval of the Rate Committee,” he said.

The students also alleged that they were told by former UM vice Chancellor Tan Sri Ghauth Jasmon that the current official should have issued a show-cause letter to the officers involved to demand they explain the missing funds and the failure to follow procedures.

Amar said PMUM is giving the management a week to reply with proper explanation on the missing funds, failing which they will pursue further action.

He did not explain what this further action would entail, but did not rule out the group lodging a police report over the missing amount.