Latest news with #ASEANAuditorConference2025
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
PM Anwar stresses independent auditing to strengthen governance across ASEAN
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on auditors, accountants and regulators across ASEAN to reaffirm their commitment to good governance rooted in values and human dignity. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, stressed that technical excellence must be accompanied by moral clarity and independent oversight to build accountable institutions and societies. He said the core of good governance is accountability. 'We talk about inclusivity, sustainability. But if you look at the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the premise is, of course, responsible and good governance. That represents the conscience of the majority of our people. 'Who wants to live in a country of excesses, endemic corruption and waste? That is why I strongly support ASEAN Audit Institutions to implement this vision,' he said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the ASEAN Auditor Conference 2025 held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here today. Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Auditor-General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi. In his speech, Anwar further stressed the importance of empowering audit institutions to operate independently and to follow the trail of accountability wherever it leads, in order to be prepared to face the challenges in this country and region. 'Now we stand beyond this, about upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability, and through this, strengthening anti-corruption frameworks, again, through the independence of auditors and regulators,' he said. The Prime Minister also stressed that he has never interfered with or altered any information contained in the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) before it was submitted to the Cabinet or presented to Parliament for open and transparent debate. 'That is why I've mentioned this to my cabinet colleagues... even I do not determine what the results or priorities should be. They briefed me of course, recently, about two weeks ago about the report. But the briefing was not for me to interfere with or change it,' he said. 'That is what we mean by good governance and transparency. This, ultimately, will strengthen governments and integrity and will be reflected in sustained improvements, again, in the corruption perception index,' he said. Anwar said that beyond positioning ASEAN as a strong economic bloc, it must also stand as a symbol of peace and a region that upholds the highest standards of good governance and accountability. In line with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 and the appointment of Malaysia's Auditor-General as Chair of the ASEAN Audit Committee, the National Audit Department (NADM) is hosting the inaugural ASEAN Auditor Conference 2025 from yesterday until today under the theme 'Inclusive and Sustainable Auditing for a Progressive ASEAN'. The conference convenes more than 2,000 participants from public and private sectors, including regional and international delegates and several Heads of Supreme Audit Institutions from ASEAN and beyond, such as Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, the Maldives and Yemen.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Anwar salls for good governance in ASEAN audits
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on auditors, accountants and regulators across ASEAN to reaffirm their commitment to good governance rooted in values and human dignity. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, stressed that technical excellence must be accompanied by moral clarity and independent oversight to build accountable institutions and societies. He said the core of good governance is accountability. 'We talk about inclusivity, sustainability. But if you look at the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the premise is, of course, responsible and good governance. That represents the conscience of the majority of our people. 'Who wants to live in a country of excesses, endemic corruption and waste? That is why I strongly support ASEAN Audit Institutions to implement this vision,' he said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the ASEAN Auditor Conference 2025 held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here today. Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Auditor-General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi. In his speech, Anwar further stressed the importance of empowering audit institutions to operate independently and to follow the trail of accountability wherever it leads, in order to be prepared to face the challenges in this country and region. 'Now we stand beyond this, about upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability, and through this, strengthening anti-corruption frameworks, again, through the independence of auditors and regulators,' he said. The Prime Minister also stressed that he has never interfered with or altered any information contained in the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) before it was submitted to the Cabinet or presented to Parliament for open and transparent debate. 'That is why I've mentioned this to my cabinet colleagues... even I do not determine what the results or priorities should be. They briefed me of course, recently, about two weeks ago about the report. But the briefing was not for me to interfere with or change it,' he said. 'That is what we mean by good governance and transparency. This, ultimately, will strengthen governments and integrity and will be reflected in sustained improvements, again, in the corruption perception index,' he said. Anwar said that beyond positioning ASEAN as a strong economic bloc, it must also stand as a symbol of peace and a region that upholds the highest standards of good governance and accountability. In line with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 and the appointment of Malaysia's Auditor-General as Chair of the ASEAN Audit Committee, the National Audit Department (NADM) is hosting the inaugural ASEAN Auditor Conference 2025 from yesterday until today under the theme 'Inclusive and Sustainable Auditing for a Progressive ASEAN'. The conference convenes more than 2,000 participants from public and private sectors, including regional and international delegates and several Heads of Supreme Audit Institutions from ASEAN and beyond, such as Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, the Maldives and Yemen.
Barnama
28-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
PM Anwar Stresses Independent Auditing To Strengthen Governance Across ASEAN
GENERAL PUTRAJAYA, May 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on auditors, accountants and regulators across ASEAN to reaffirm their commitment to good governance rooted in values and human dignity. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, stressed that technical excellence must be accompanied by moral clarity and independent oversight to build accountable institutions and societies. He said the core of good governance is accountability. 'We talk about inclusivity, sustainability. But if you look at the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the premise is, of course, responsible and good governance. That represents the conscience of the majority of our people. 'Who wants to live in a country of excesses, endemic corruption and waste? That is why I strongly support ASEAN Audit Institutions to implement this vision,' he said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the ASEAN Auditor Conference 2025 held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here today. Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Auditor-General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi. In his speech, Anwar further stressed the importance of empowering audit institutions to operate independently and to follow the trail of accountability wherever it leads, in order to be prepared to face the challenges in this country and region. 'Now we stand beyond this, about upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability, and through this, strengthening anti-corruption frameworks, again, through the independence of auditors and regulators,' he said. The Prime Minister also stressed that he has never interfered with or altered any information contained in the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) before it was submitted to the Cabinet or presented to Parliament for open and transparent debate.
Barnama
27-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
ASEAN Must Transition Into Governance Bloc
PUTRAJAYA, May 27 (Bernama) -- Amid ongoing global trade realignments, supply chain uncertainties and great power rivalries, ASEAN must evolve from being merely a geographical bloc into a governance bloc, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said. He said these challenges are no longer distant or abstract as they are being felt directly through rising food prices, infrastructure planning disruptions and in labour markets. 'For ASEAN, these challenges are compounded by the diversity of our economies, capacities and governance systems, but this is also our strength. 'Our ability to adapt, to cooperate and to uphold shared principles of transparency, accountability and inclusiveness is what will define our regional future,' he said in his opening remarks at the ASEAN Auditor Conference 2025 here today, organised by the National Audit Department of Malaysia (NADM). His speech text was read out by Auditor-General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi. Shamsul Azri said governance today is no longer about control, but about fostering trust, particularly in an ASEAN region where citizens are increasingly informed, connected, and expect greater integrity from public institutions. 'Our public institutions must respond not with bureaucracy, but with boldness, openness and competence. Our public service must be agile enough to translate these macro challenges into micro reforms. 'In Malaysia, our public service reform journey is driven by a comprehensive and deliberate agenda, one anchored on five reform thrusts, namely value and governance, human capital, organisational development, service delivery and public-private synergy,' he added. Shamsul Azri also underscored the growing need for collaboration within the ASEAN public sector, calling for greater cooperation among auditors, policymakers and digital governance leaders to create public value.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
NADM pursues RM123 million in unremitted revenue following Audit Act amendment
PUTRAJAYA: The National Audit Department (NADM) has recovered approximately RM123 million in previously unpaid revenues since the amendment to the Audit Act 1957 (Act 62), which came into force last year, said Auditor-General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi. She said the department has also tracked incomplete infrastructure projects that have been carried out in coordination with the auditors. '..after the Act was amended, we have been able to follow through on a lot of the issues highlighted in previous reports (The Auditor-General's Report). 'We have followed up on about RM123 million in unpaid revenues. We have followed up on infrastructure that was not done, through various platforms that we have with our auditors,' she said at the ASEAN Auditor Conference 2025 here today. Wan Suraya was one of the panelists for the high-level dialogue session titled Enhancing Public Sector Auditing Through Follow-Up Audit, moderated by Deputy Auditor-General Azman Mahmood. The other two panellists were the Philippines' Commission on Audit Chairperson Gamaliel Asis Cordoba and Indonesia's Audit Board Director General of Audit VII Pranoto. Wan Suraya added that the revised Act empowers the Auditor-General to take action on issues or make formal recommendations when serious irregularities are uncovered. 'I just like to flag that out because this is within the ambit of the new power. The other point I would like to highlight is that what we are trying to drive through now is the enhanced accountability through Parliament, since our reports are also debated there. 'This process ensures transparency and compels relevant ministries and agencies to justify their responses or inaction. This is a clear focus on turning findings into measurable action. We want to know what they are going to do to fix whatever deficiencies or inefficiencies are identified in the report,' she added. Earlier, the conference also featured a keynote address by the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn, delivered via video message. In his remarks, he highlighted the credibility and vital role of auditors across the public, private and internal audit sectors, while calling for stronger regional and cross-sector collaboration to build a trusted and competent audit profession. In line with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 and the appointment of Malaysia's Auditor-General as Chair of the ASEAN Audit Committee, NADM is hosting the inaugural ASEAN Auditor Conference 2025 from today until tomorrow at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. The conference convenes 2,243 participants from public and private sectors, including regional and international delegates and several Heads of Supreme Audit Institutions from ASEAN and beyond, such as Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, the Maldives and Yemen. Held under the theme Inclusive and Sustainable Auditing for a Progressive ASEAN, the conference is a strategic platform to exchange knowledge and experiences aimed at strengthening audit frameworks in response to emerging challenges. These include digital transformation in auditing, alignment with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting standards, capacity building and enhanced cross-border collaboration.
