KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic) tabled a motion in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (July 23) to extend the debate on the Auditor-General’s Report.
This is to facilitate institutional checks and balances, she said, adding that the move is part of ongoing reforms to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of public entities.
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It is also to reinforce the government’s push for stronger public sector governance and supporting the oversight of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), she added.
"In line with the principles of transparency and accountability, the government has taken a significant step by not only tabling the report in this Honourable House but also allowing it to be openly debated.
"This is a departure from previous administrations that only tabled the report without debate,” she said while tabling the motion, adding that since June 6, 2023, the report has been debated four times.
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She said the report, which covers the activities of ministries, departments, statutory bodies and Federal Government-linked companies, presents audit findings on five programmes, activities, or projects across seven ministries, with a total audited value of RM48.873bil.
Azalina said the Auditor-General's Report 2/2025 highlighted serious irregularities in three of the five audited programmes, potentially undermining their efficiency and intended impact.
"To address these shortcomings and prevent recurrence, the report sets out 22 recommendations for the relevant ministries, departments, agencies and federal government-linked companies to act upon.
"This initiative creates a direct avenue for more members of parliament to play an active role in ensuring government funds are managed prudently in the public interest,” she said.
She added that the debate is also intended to provide a platform for discussing concrete steps to address the issues raised, ensuring they are given due attention before effective corrective action is taken.
Azalina further noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed the need for all responsible ministers to thoroughly review every finding raised in the report, especially recurring issues that remain unresolved. – Bernama
