Auditor-general: Audit reports key to strengthening accountability, transparency and governance

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — The National Audit Department (JAN) is carrying out its mandate as the country’s audit institution independently, professionally and with integrity in strengthening accountability, transparency and governance in the public sector, says Auditor General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi.

She said audit findings were translated into the Auditor General’s Report (LKAN), which is one of the important instruments in the country’s checks-and-balances mechanism.

She said the Auditor General’s firmness in providing opinions on Financial Statements and making audit recommendations was not merely to fulfil reporting requirements to Parliament, but more importantly, to encourage effective corrective action and improvements in public sector management.

“Through the LKAN, weaknesses and non-compliance can be identified, corrective action can be taken, and systems and governance can be strengthened.

“The ultimate goal is to ensure public funds are managed and spent prudently and transparently, while delivering the appropriate value and benefits to the people,” she said in her speech at the 2026 Auditor General’s Cup Debate Competition (PKAN 2026), themed “120 Years of the National Audit Department: Driving Accountability, Building an Integrity-Driven Madani Generation”.

The inaugural PKAN 2026 brought together 20 public higher education institutions from across the country and was held over three days from Aug 13, with the final round taking place at the Parliament building today.

Meanwhile, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said in his speech that the debate competition provided a platform for the younger generation to appreciate the importance of accountability, governance and public funds management, besides understanding the role of JAN in ensuring that the people’s trust is upheld.

He said the competition was not merely a platform for debating skills, but also an important avenue for developing a younger generation capable of managing differences of opinion in an orderly, rational and respectful manner.

“A mature democracy does not depend solely on the strength of arguments, but also on how differences are respected, debates are conducted responsibly and rules are observed,” he said.

He said Malaysia needed a younger generation that was not only excellent academically, but also critical-minded, courageous in leadership and understood the country’s administrative and democratic processes.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) emerged as the PKAN 2026 champions after defeating the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in the final round, which debated the motion “This House Believes That a Culture of Accountability Should Complement Punitive Action in Addressing Governance Failures”.

UIAM finished as the runners-up, while Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) shared third place. — Bernama