PAC Recommends JPM Review Relevance Of National Professors Council

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) study the relevance of the National Professors Council (MPN) as a driving force of academic expertise in assisting the government in developing the nation.

PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said that if the government decides to maintain MPN as a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLBG), it should be placed under the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) based on its function and role.

“Following this recommendation, JPM needs to inform PAC of the progress regarding the government’s decision on MPN’s status, whether it remains as a CLBG agency under the government or otherwise, in the follow-up proceedings,” she told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

The Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) series 2/2024 revealed that MPN misused its financial resources and that its corporate governance practices were unsatisfactory.

According to the report, MPN made payments totaling RM207,000 in fixed allowances to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman without the approval of the responsible minister.

Mas Ermieyati said that the effectiveness and function of MPN to the government could not be verified, and its activities were not conducted according to its founding objectives.

She noted that this issue was partly due to undefined key performance indicators (KPIs) and the lack of reports to JPM, as well as the funds not being allocated to the clusters/chapters.

MPN was established in 2010 to harness the expertise of experienced academic professionals to assist the government in national development efforts and was initially placed under KPT.

It was moved to JPM on March 21, 2014, and incorporated under the Companies Act 1965 as a CLBG to enable it to operate as an independent, autonomous entity that could work across ministerial boundaries.

However, in 2018, the think tank was removed from JPM's oversight before the government announced that MPN would be re-recognized as an agency under JPM on November 8, 2021.

-- BERNAMA