Over RM183 Million in Remaining Research Grants Failed to Be Refunded

KUALA LUMPURFeb. 23 (Bernama) — The National Audit Department informed that as of June 30, 2025, remaining unreturned research grants across four ministries amounted to RM183.11 million involving 7,904 projects.

Based on the Auditor General’s Report 1/2026 which was presented at the Dewan Rakyat today, it involved the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT), the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM).

The audit informed that the remaining unreturned research grants in the four ministries showed weaknesses in financial control management, project monitoring and project closure procedures in addition to research funds not being used efficiently to achieve the expected impact.

KPT recorded the highest unreturned balance of RM110.67 million for 7,823 projects involving five research universities namely Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Malaya (UM).

In addition, the two implementing agencies under MITI recorded remaining grants amounting to RM55.64 million, MOSTI amounting to RM14.33 million, and KPKM involving RM2.47 million.

The audit analysis also found that a total of RM9.72 million or 5.3 per cent was balances exceeding a 10-year term while RM89.82 million or 49 per cent was balances for a term between five to nine years.

The report informs that remaining research grants that are not monitored by the ministry are at risk of being used for purposes other than those previously approved.

In addition, the remainder of the MITI research grant for the 11th Malaysia Plan that has not been returned, namely RM55.64 million, involves the Malaysian Investment Development Board (MIDA) and Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd (MIDF).

According to the report, the implementing agency has used the remaining allocation to fund new projects of the 12th Malaysia Plan without the approval of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy.