Unexplained Covid-era spending raises question marks among rugby affiliates
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Rugby (MR) affiliates have requested the national body conduct an internal audit on MR's financial report for 2023.
The MR exco presented the 2023 accounts during its annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur today (June 14) but was not approved by the majority of the 15 affiliates that attended.
The heated AGM, which also discussed issues relating to national team programmes and domestic competitions, lasted almost five hours.
Selangor Rugby Union (SRU) president Lim Yi Wei said the financial report for 2023 lacked detail and showed poor accounting practices.
"The financial report has to be more detailed and must be substantiated with supporting documents," said Yi Wei.
"They should explain in more detail, for example there are delayed payments made in 2023 for team (programmes) done in 2020 and 2021.
"These were the Covid-19 years so we want to know what programmes these were.
"I am hoping for an internal audit to be conducted so we can at least get some answers. Hopefully they can initiate the internal audit process soon within the next one or two months.
"I am also hoping the financial report for 2024 will be much better as it (2024) falls under the current exco."
MR rugby lost millions in an embezzlement case that occurred between 2019-2022. The Kuala Lumpur High Court recently ordered a former MR employee to pay the national body RM4.9 million in damages.
The investigation into the case delayed the presentation of MR's financial reports from 2020 to 2023. The 2024 financial report can only be tabled once the 2023 report is approved.
The current MR rugby exco was elected in December 2023.
MR president Amir Amri Mohamad said the internal audit will be conducted once necessary information has been obtained.
An extraordinary general meeting will be held to approve the financial report if the affiliates are satisfied with the findings from the internal audit.
"Our treasurer Che Zulkarnain Abd Wahab will be speaking to the former treasurer and secretary to obtain more information about the accounts for 2023," said Amir.
Che Zulkarnain said that retrieving detailed documentation regarding 2023 spending has been challenging and urged all parties to give their full cooperation.
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