PH can perform better internal audit administration process: Ambrin

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government can become a more effective administrator in performing the internal audit process as long as it does not repeat the mistakes of the previous government.
Former Auditor-General (AG) Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said follow-ups and recommendations made in the AG's reports must be taken and applied seriously, or else the same warnings issued by the AG would go unheeded like before.
"We do not want to see the same mistakes repeating itself. However, given that the PH government is only over 100 days (old), we cannot pass judgement too fast," he told reporters after addressing the Public Sector Internal Audit Conference 2018, here today.
Ambrin, who is Chairman of the Special Committee on Procurement, Governance & Finance, said the public would have to 'wait and see' on the government's seriousness in de-emphasising direct negotiation projects and open tender processes.
"We will go by their (PH government) statements. Let's see how it goes," he added.
On the committee, Ambrin said it was still concentrating on the Defence Ministry before going into other ministries, as there were quite a number issues to look into.
"It will take sometime. The mandate given to us does not determine when should we complete our task, so it is on-going," he said.
Earlier in his speech, Ambrin urged public sector auditors to widen their knowledge and read their audit reports presented by their colleagues on other ministries or agencies, including 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
"The National Audit Department portal is accessible and the information can be obtained by everyone, including the media.
"Take interest on these kind of audit reports as you can learn from the experiences (unfolded) in the reports," he added.
Ambrin served as the AG for 11 years before retiring on Feb 22 last year. — Bernama