PETALING JAYA, March 22 ― Failure to act on leakages identified annually by the Auditor-General created the environment that allowed an official to siphon over RM100 million from the Youth and Sports Ministry, said the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4).

C4 chief Cynthia Gabriel pointed out that while similar cases were revealed each year in the Auditor-General’s reports tabled in Parliament, few of any officials identified for the financial mismanagement are punished.

“And because no action taken, we have allowed the situation to arrive at this point,” she told reporters after a press conference today.

MACC arrested a 56-year-old official with the Youth and Sports Ministry last Friday, who was suspected of embezzling RM100 million over the past six years.

Among the assets seized from the suspect valued at about RM20 million, were 12 vehicles, designer handbags and jewellery. Some 69 bank accounts containing RM8.3 million were also frozen.

The senior official has been suspended from his duties on half pay.