Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has pledged to strengthen its procurement guidelines after the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report Series 2 flagged non-compliance in several service supply projects at its teaching hospital, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM).
The university said today it would improve contractor evaluation and selection processes to ensure that they align with Treasury circulars and financial regulations.
It said it viewed the findings in the auditor-general’s report seriously, and that it remained committed to managing all expenditures transparently and in accordance with established regulations.
“As a proactive measure, the vice-chancellor held a meeting with the A-G in Parliament on July 23 to discuss steps for improving the university’s governance procedures,” it said in a statement.
According to the auditor-general’s report, HCTM breached procurement procedures in three tenders. Among them was a RM25.64 million, three-year catering contract awarded to a company that did not possess halal certification from the Islamic development department.
Another contract for cancer treatment equipment went to a firm not recommended by HCTM’s technical team, despite compatibility issues. The resulting delays affected patient care, with 20 cancer patients waiting for up to eight weeks for treatment.
