Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim instructed Cabinet ministers to take seriously and scrutinize every remark of the Auditor General’s Report 2021 about expenses, and leaks that do not meet conditions and regulations.
In a press conference after chairing the Cabinet meeting here today (January 18), Anwar said today’s Cabinet meeting had examined the report but chose not to announce it to give space to bodies under the ministry to respond.
“For this time, I ask that the Cabinet Ministers take a serious look at these reprimands so that they do not repeat themselves because the Auditor General’s report gives recommendations but the same mistakes or continuity continue year after year,” he said.
Anwar said the National Audit Department will announce the report at an appropriate time and present it in the next Parliament session.
He said such reports are important because they detect mistakes such as lack of oversight, allowing leakages and handing over to companies that do not follow the rules.
Anwar said the audit report referred to a number of specific incidents and problems but not necessarily related to corruption because it was not in the area of competence of the audit party but was more for the purpose of identifying problems.
He said it was the ministry’s responsibility to examine the audit report and call the agencies involved to get an explanation and determine whether further action or reports needed to be made.
“Each ministry must take responsibility to examine criticism of the ministry, even if this happened in the past, but it is to remind civil servants of their responsibility to maintain integrity and efficiency at work,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar said civil servants can make reprimands to ministers or higher officials through the right channels and face to face and not through media statements.
“To rebuke, we have a mechanism, there are daily meetings. There is a post-cab meeting, he can present his views and if he feels it is a bit offensive, maybe we can meet separately,” he said.
Giving an example, Anwar said he reminded Chief Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali to give him advice if his instructions did not follow the rules.
“This is when we work as a team. So, he also has to accept the fact that we also have to reprimand them for their excesses, otherwise there is a culture of fear which means that if there is a violation he will remain silent,” he said.
