KUALA LUMPUR: Follow-up audits have successfully recovered RM159mil since last year, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the Madani government had implemented various reforms to ensure greater accountability and restore public confidence.
"We also established a Serious Irregularities Commission to deal swiftly with critical breaches.
"Since 2024, follow-up audits have already recovered and safeguarded RM159mil," he said in his keynote address at the Asian Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditors (ACIIA) Conference 2025 here on Tuesday (Sept 9).
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Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said that earlier this year, he launched four new auditing guidelines extending the National Audit Department's authority to cover any entity receiving public funds.
"This 'follow the public money' approach helps to curb leakages and corruption.
"It also ensures that every ringgit of the national budget is spent for its intended purposes," he said.
He added that good governance was also a central pillar of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the government's latest five-year economic strategy until 2030.
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"Alongside policies to lift economic ambition and to strengthen social protection, the 13MP makes clear that reforming the public service is essential," he said.
He also said that the government cannot achieve good governance without the help of the private sector and professional bodies.
"In this regard, I commend the Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia.
"The launch of the Statement of Risk Management and Internal Control (Sormic) Guide 2025 with Bursa Malaysia is an important step.
"It provides firms with a blueprint for embedding risk awareness, strengthening investor confidence, and preparing for ESG and other emerging risks," said Anwar.
