Datuk Ahmad Zaharin Moh Saad, the mayor of Shah Alam, revealed that the city would be clamping down on bogus staff claims after an employee recently submitted an RM1,300 (US$300) claim in overtime for “photocopying chores.”
The issue came to light after the appalled mayor brough it up during the Shah Alam city council full board meeting that was held yesterday.
Ahmad Zaharin added that the staff member had indicated that the RM1,300 bill was for five hours of work carried out on a Sunday in August.
“I take these things very seriously,” the Malay Mail reports him to have said. “I believe everyone should do the same because this involves the rakyat’s (people’s) money.”
In the month of September, Shah Alam city council received 500 claims from employees. Of them, 40% were not approved as legitimate claims.
The mayor continued his dressing down, reminding those present that city council must adhere to the rule that any overtime done needs prior approval from department heads. Duties are to be carried out between the office hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm, and not simply at the “whim-and-fancy” of staff members.
Councilors have taken his strong words to heart, and are now proposing that in the future, fraudulent claims be dealt with more seriously, suggesting police reports be filed against the bogus declarations.
