PETALING JAYA, March 21 — A senior minister said it was time for civil servants occupying vital positions to be promoted or transferred after two years.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek was shocked to learn a ranking Youth and Sports Ministry officer was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for misappropriating RM100 million for more than six years.

“This should not have happened but it did. It is time for the Public Service Department and Chief Secretary of the Government to promote or transfer public servants holding sensitive seats, including managing finances, to another department after two years,” he said.

“This will ensure the individual will not get too comfortable in his position or else it could lead to abuse.”

MACC revealed the 56-year-old suspect has been occupying the post for the past eight years.

“Ministers and the ministry’s secretary general come and go but the civil servants are there to stay. Ministers trust civil servants as we come up with policies but it is they who advise us about operational matters,” Ahmad Shabery said.

He said such a situation could happen in any ministry.

“I will bring this matter up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the next Cabinet meeting (next Friday),” he said.

Ahmad Shabery, who was Youth and Sports Minister before being succeeded by Khairy Jamaluddin, said he did not remember dealing with the suspect in the past.

“The name sounds familiar but I can’t recall any dealings with him. I usually deal with the ministry’s secretary-general. Maybe if I saw him, I would remember him,” he said.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Juniadi Tuanku Jaafar also expressed shock over the fiasco, adding that it would keep “ministries on their toes”.

“The MACC will ensure the officer involved will be brought to justice. At this point, the minister and other senior officials in the ministry cannot cover up,” Wan Juniadi said.

He said ministries had their respective integrity units and such units should start paying close attention to such matters.

“There should be strict monitoring of such issues and better management of funds,” he said.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani said: “Payments of programmes that never took place are an indication there is weaknesses in the system. 

“We need to institute a mechanism of check and balance within the approval, execution and payments.”

Public Accounts Committee deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said public funds must be handled according to ethics and laws.

“I have always maintained that transparency and accountability must, at all times, be present especially when it comes to public funds,” he said.

Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming was disappointed over such news.

"It is a travesty to taxpayers if the allegations were true," he said.