| INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT

Audit: All 25 ministries are excellent

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31, 2017: All 25 ministries achieved excellent levels last year, compared to the previous two years, according to the Auditor-General's Report 2016 Series 1. 

According to the essence of the Federal Government Financial Statements and Financial Management reports of the Ministry / Department / Federal Statutory Bodies contained in the audit report, the overall performance of financial management at the ministry level has improved. 

"In 2016, all 25 (100 per cent) ministries achieved excellence compared to 16 (64 per cent) and 20 per cent (83.3 per cent) from 25 ministries in 2015 and 24 ministries in 2014," the report said in Parliament today. 

The National Audit Department carries out financial management audits (Accountability Index) at 25 ministries, 18 audited Federal departments and 38 Federal statutory bodies audited for three years. 

It is to evaluate whether their financial management has complied with relevant financial laws and regulations. 

According to the report, the performance of financial management at 18 Federal departments audited on an annual basis showed an increase with 16 departments to achieve excellent levels and two in good standing. 

Meanwhile, financial management performance in 38 Federal Statutory Bodies (BBPs) audited roundly every three years showed 16 BBPs were at an excellent level, 19 at good levels and three MDs at satisfactory level. 

Auditing is also conducted at the Headquarters of the Youth and Sports Department (JBS) and 15 JBS states and 13 state Social Security Societies (SOCSO) offices nationwide. 

In addition, audits are conducted at six Malaysian representative offices overseas under the Foreign Ministry and seven Offices of the Federal Statutory Bodies abroad. 

The National Audit Department also carried out a sudden audit of 265 responsibility centers / Federal Government Cost Centers at state and district levels under 20 Ministries and 148 offices under 47 BPPs. 

The audit results detected some cases such as stamps, cash books and retail moneybooks that were not fully maintained and updated, sudden checks were not implemented as prescribed and the decline of power was not granted to officials holding key and number combinations of safes. 

In addition to auditing to meet the legal requirements, the National Audit Department performs a special assessment of the performance of the ministry's management / department / agency under the control of the head of the department which holds the Major Public Sector (JUSA) position, involving 63 department heads. 

Meanwhile, Auditor-General, Madinah Mohamad, under the preliminary statement in the audit report on the activities of the Federal Government ministries / departments in 2016 say, in general, government activities are carried out in line with the objectives set out despite some weaknesses. 

He said among the weaknesses were work, supply and services were not in accordance with specification, not quality or inappropriate, delays in supply and project completion, irregular payments, waste and inefficiency in asset management and government revenue collection. 

Madinah said weaknesses arise from negligence in compliance with government regulations / procedures, less careful when planning programs, activities or projects and setting out scope and tender specifications, not regularly monitoring contractor / consultant work, lack of skills in project management and less pay attention to the success / impact of a program / activity / project. 

To enable the ministry's chief secretary and department head to perform corrective and corrective actions, Medina said a total of 90 recommendations were proposed to improve the identified weaknesses. 

Source: BERNAMA 

Search By: Pn. Nur Asyikin Yusoff

SXDTTAN~