Jimmy Puah (PH-Tebrau) said shutting down MPN would save public funds which could then be directly spent on the people through aid programmes, for example.

“We had high hopes in MPN but are disappointed by this (misuse of funds),” he told the Dewan Rakyat while debating the A-G’s report today.

“In my opinion, let’s just close down or dissolve MPN. Let’s save the money. We’re trying to implement targeted subsidies and we’ve raised the service tax rate, but here we’re seeing leakages and misappropriation (of funds),” said the PKR MP.

The 2024 A-G’s report released last week uncovered numerous irregularities in MPN, which is overseen by the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD).

This includes two MPN trustees misusing RM373,516 of the council’s funds to finance the operations of two companies in which they hold shares. The pair also failed to declare their interests as shareholders in the two companies in accordance with the Companies Act 2016.

The report said that based on interviews with MPN officials, the two companies had been operating rent-free out of MPN’s office since 2019.

It also found that the council’s chairman and deputy chairman were paid RM207,000 in allowances without ministerial approval. Other issues raised included corporate credit card payments totalling RM98,076 and advance payments of RM20,000 made without supporting documents.

The national audit department recommended an overhaul of MPN’s management, and that the PMD refer the irregularities to the relevant enforcement agencies.