Photo: Bernama
THE Auditor-General will be given more bite to keep check on how public funds are spent under proposed amendments to the Audit Act 1957.
The Audit (Amendment) Bill 2024, tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, is aimed at improving governance and accountability in the public sector.
Among the significant amendments is the inclusion of a new section, namely Section 9a, which empowers the Auditor-General to carry out a follow-up audit to review actions taken by state and federal authorities, as well as bodies, with regard to the implementation of the agency’s recommendations.
With the amendments, the Auditor-General may, at any time, present the follow-up audit report to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and submit a copy of the report to the respective heads of state.
Also significant is the amendment to Section 5, which expands the powers of the Auditor-General to probe and audit the accounts of any body, including companies receiving grants or loans from federal or state sources or those in receipt of public money, if the Finance Minister believes that the accounts of such bodies need to be examined, inquired into, and audited due to public interest.
The amendments are taking the approach of “Follow the Public Money Audit” to allow the Auditor-General to keep track of the whereabouts of public funds.
Also to be amended is Section 9(2), which empowers the Auditor-General to make any recommendations to address serious irregularities with regard to accounts involving public funds under its audit.
The Bill, which was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic), is expected to be passed at this Dewan Rakyat meeting, which ends on July 18.
Currently, the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has the power to carry out a follow-up to determine if its recommendations are implemented following investigations into the Auditor-General’s annual reports.
Federal and state departments and agencies will be required to respond to the PAC within two months of receiving the recommendations.
