Auditor-general: Audit reports key to strengthening accountability, transparency and governance

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — Auditor-General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi affirmed that the National Audit Department (JAN) operates independently, professionally, and with integrity to bolster accountability, transparency, and governance within the public sector. She emphasized that the audit findings are compiled into the Auditor General's Report (LKAN), a crucial element of the country's checks-and-balances system.

The Auditor General's commitment to providing opinions on Financial Statements and recommendations is not solely for fulfilling parliamentary reporting requirements, but to spur effective corrective actions and enhancements in public sector management. According to Wan Suraya, the LKAN aids in uncovering weaknesses, enabling corrective measures, and strengthening systems and governance, with the ultimate objective of ensuring prudent and transparent management of public funds for the benefit of the people.

This sentiment was echoed during the 2026 Auditor General’s Cup Debate Competition (PKAN 2026), which commemorated the department's 120-year legacy and centered on the theme "Driving Accountability, Building an Integrity-Driven Madani Generation". The three-day event, held at the Parliament building, gathered 20 public higher education institutions nationwide.

Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, highlighted the competition's role in fostering an appreciation for accountability, governance, and public funds management among the younger generation, alongside understanding JAN's pivotal role in safeguarding public trust. He stressed that Malaysia requires a new generation that is not only academically proficient but also critical in thought, assertive in leadership, and well-versed in the nation's administrative and democratic processes.

UPM clinched the PKAN 2026 title after overcoming IIUM in the final round, where they debated the motion "This House Believes That a Culture of Accountability Should Complement Punitive Action in Addressing Governance Failures". IIUM took second place, while UiTM and UMS shared third place.