A NEW board for the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) will be announced in the coming days as part of the corporation’s restructuring process, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

He said the new members will continue the process of reviewing all of Finas’ operations which will then be put in an audit report.

“If we find there is a problem that needs immediate attention from the MACC or the police, a police report or other needed reports will be made,” he said.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is currently investigating the alleged misappropriation of RM25 million at Finas.

Gobind added that the replacement of Finas’s director general and it’s deputy had nothing to do with the probe.

He stressed that the changes were made as part of the restructuring plan which includes bringing in a new team.

“The removal of the director general and the deputy director general is not related to any of these inquiries.

“It is an internal restructuring process that I’m making. I did not say that they are involved in the matter. Like I have said previously, let the law takes its course,” said Gobind.

Deputy secretary-general of the ministry of communications and multimedia Shakib Ahmad Shakir had been appointed as Finas’ acting director general, replacing Fauzi Ayob. While the ministry’s Finance Division deputy secretary Fairul Azida Shahabudin was appointed as acting deputy director to replace Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib.

Gobind also said the new board is needed to provide new ideas that will maintain Finas’ relevance as the film industry develops in the digital world.

When asked about the MACC investigation, Gobind said it involves several accounts. He said two matters are being looked at which are serious financial issues, as well as the financial system that was practised in Finas.

An MACC source had previously said a Finas senior officer was suspected of being involved in the alleged embezzlement of the funds, which had been approved for the implementation of projects under the 1Malaysia Negaraku programme.

There were some 10 projects, and preliminary investigations revealed that the senior officer was involved in almost all of them. – October 11, 2018.