KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) urged the government to steer clear of appointing former ministries' secretary-general as the next auditor-general.

Its chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsuddin said the next auditor-general must have accounting and auditing background to provide added value to the National Audit Department to carry out their work.

"Appointing former ministries' secretary-general as the next auditor-general should be avoided even though the justification is they know about the ins and outs of public administration.

"But, it is better to have someone with professional background in finance and auditing," she said today.

Mas Ermieyati said the position has been left vacant for four months now since the retirement of Datuk Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid on Feb 23.

She said the matter deserved attention as only an auditor-general can present the audit report to Yang Di-Pertuan Agong for consent before being tabled in Dewan Rakyat, in accordance with Article 107 (1) of the Federal Constitution.

For example, she said the Auditor General Report of Financial Statements of the Federal Government 2022 and Auditor General Report of Federal Agency Statement 2021 could not be handled without an auditor general.

The reports are now expected to be brought up in the next parliament session in October.

"This burdens the National Audit Department and PAC as there are many reports needed to be scrutinised," she said.

At the same time, she said government funding to the National Audit Department was also insufficient.

"This inhibits the work carried out by the department coupled with the parliamentary move to discuss the motion of the report." she added.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/917908/pac-avoid-appointing-former-sec-gen-auditor-general