PETALING JAYA: The umbrella body for civil service unions will be given a briefing by the government following a move to empower the Auditor-General to have better scrutiny of public fund spending.
The briefing, which would be held next month, would focus on the proposed amendments to the Audit Act, which seek to improve governance and accountability in the public sector.
“These amendments, which had been postponed for some time, are much needed to address all the leakages uncovered by the Auditor-General,” said Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) secretary-general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin.
“Anything that benefits the people is welcomed, especially in empowering the Auditor-General. How can the Auditor-General do the job diligently if the person has no power to do so?” he said when contacted.
On Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said tabled the amendments in the Dewan Rakyat.
Among others, it seeks to empower the Auditor-General to carry out follow-up audits to review actions taken by state and federal authorities.
Another amendment will enable the Auditor-General to provide recommendations for addressing irregularities found in accounts involving public funds.
Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah said that laws should not just exist on paper with limited enforcement but must instead be practised to the fullest extent. … Read More
