2018 Series 3 report a special issue due to more audits, says AG

Auditor-General Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid has shared that the 2018 AG Report Series 3 was produced due to extra audits that were performed over 2016 to 2018.

Split into two components, the report covers federal and state projects. 12 reports covering 10 ministries form the federal component, while 30 reports covering 12 states involving state government departments, agencies, and state government companies form the state component.

Nik Azman noted that these audits were for the performance of the projects undertaken over the period by the respective parties. The report, he shared, was supposed to have been tabled in March, but this was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing movement control order.

The report was instead tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The ministries audited were the Ministry of Finance, the Prime Minister’s Department, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries, the Home Affairs Ministry, The Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport.

“While the projects were generally a success, some issues include the accurate measurement in meeting target outcomes, additional costs from delayed works, the poor administration of allocations, contracts, and equipment supply, the quality of the work provided, and the inefficiencies in collecting government revenue,” said Nik Azman.

The National Audit Department has suggested the detailed planning of projects, including streamlining those projects across the various agencies and ministries.

Also suggested was for the internal control system to be strengthened through a structured organisation and clear delegation of duties, as well as a transparent and accountable workflow.

Monitoring and enforcement should also be improved, and exercises for these should be conducted constantly for public servants of every level. – July 14, 2020

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