KUANTAN: The accounts of state governments led by Barisan Nasional as well as Pakatan Rakyat were scrutinised in equal measure in the Auditor-General's Report, Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said.

Ambrin assured that the report, which will be tabled in Parliament two weeks after the recent tabling of Budget 2013, was also impartial on spending by the Federal Government.

“I wish to clarify that we audit all the state governments irrespective of whether they are (governed by party) A' or B',” Ambrin told reporters after the opening of the 1Malaysia Audit Day and the annual public sector auditors' conference here yesterday.

General guidelines: Adnan checking out an audit book on guidelines after opening the 1Malaysia Audit Day. Looking on is Ambrin (left) and Deputy Auditors-General Datuk Anwari Suri and Datuk Mustafa Saman (right).

Responding to Opposition leaders who have questioned the delay in the release of the report, Ambrin said it was to allow enough time to debate the Budget as explained by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

DAP adviser and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang in his blog demanded that the report be tabled without delay.

He also questioned whether Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Nazri were afraid that the audit would contain “explosive exposes”.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was also reported to have said that he was seeking Nazri's permission for Penang to make public the A-G's Report on the state.

Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, who launched the event, defended the Auditor-General, adding that the question of bias did not arise.

“If the Government wants to cover up, then there will be nothing at all. It will be just like a dictatorial system where the Auditor-General will be told not to highlight this and that,” said Adnan.

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