PUTRAJAYA: Audit institutions in the country should be empowered to operate independently, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that good governance is crucial and independent auditor firms, particularly the Auditor-General's Department play a pivotal role in ensuring accountability.
"I have mentioned to my Cabinet colleagues that even I don't determine the results or priorities of the report. The department recently briefed me on the Auditor-General's Report," said Anwar
“They brief me not to interfere or change their report. The briefing is for me to present it to the Cabinet before it's tabled in Parliament for public debate,” he added.
"This is what is meant by good governance and transparency," he said when closing the Asean Auditor Conference on Wednesday (May 28).
He added that independent audit reports would also strengthen governance and integrity within the administration.
"This will ultimately be reflected in sustaining improvements in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI)," he added.
Anwar acknowledged that both foreign and local audit institutions have faced interference, and added that some audit firms, including larger ones, were not entirely free from becoming targets of excesses.
"In this country and in more industrialised nations, there has been complicity at times. For example, in the 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) scandal, there was complicity with big audit firms," said Anwar.
"This is why audit firms should operate independently to follow the trail of accountability wherever it leads," he added.
Anwar praised Auditor-General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi for her efforts despite the challenges of conducting audits.
"That is why we have this woman of steel as the Auditor-General. It is a tough and unpopular task, but it doesn't matter to her as she is not contesting in elections," he said, drawing applause and laughter.
Anwar stressed this message during the recent Asean Summit for audit firms to act independently to ensure good governance and accountability.
