28-05-2025
Anwar Rallies ASEAN Auditors To Uphold Integrity And Good Governance
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on auditors, accountants and regulators across ASEAN to reinforce their commitment to ethical governance, moral clarity and independent oversight in discharging their responsibilities.
He delivered this message during the closing ceremony of the ASEAN Auditors Conference 2025 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) today, where he stressed the importance of accountability as the core of good governance.
'We often talk about inclusivity and sustainability. However, if you examine the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, its foundation is accountability and good governance. It reflects the voice of the majority of our people,' Anwar said.
'Who wants to live in a country riddled with leakages, corruption and wastage? Therefore, I fully support the ASEAN Audit Institutions in carrying out this vision.'
The conference, themed Inclusive and Sustainable Auditing for a Progressive ASEAN , brought together over 2,000 participants from both public and private sectors, as well as regional and international delegates. Among them were heads of supreme audit institutions from ASEAN member states such as Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia and Laos, alongside representatives from Maldives and Yemen.
Anwar affirmed that Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair in 2025 and with the Auditor-General of Malaysia appointed as Chair of the ASEAN Audit Committee, is committed to driving the region's auditing agenda forward.
He underlined the need for audit institutions to operate independently and responsibly in order to navigate both national and regional challenges.
'We are now taking further steps by strengthening the highest standards of transparency and accountability, while also enhancing the anti-corruption framework through the independence of auditors and regulators,' he said.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of respecting institutional boundaries.
'Of course, they gave me a briefing… two weeks ago. But that was only a briefing – not for me to intervene or change policy,' he clarified.
'That is what we mean by good governance and transparency, which in turn will strengthen the government, uphold integrity and reflect continuous improvement in the Corruption Perception Index.'
Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Auditor-General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi. Related
