Auditor-General’s Report: Non-compliance resulted in losses of RM158.08mil in public funds

PUTRAJAYA: Non-compliance in financial management has resulted in losses in public funds totalling RM158.08mil, according to findings of the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report.

According to the Series 2 of the Report, of the amount, losses of public funds amounted to RM116.95mil, irregular payments (RM26.03mil) and wastage (RM15.10mil).

Auditor-General Datuk Seri Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid (pic) said that in 2021, seven topics related to audit compliance were carried out at three ministries and four federal agencies involving audit reviews of RM1.127bil.

The audit focused on key audit areas and financial management control based on risk profiling carried out by every ministry, department and agency.

“A total of 22 recommendations were forwarded to the said ministries and agencies for them to take corrective actions,” he said at a press conference on Thursday (Feb 16).

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Series 2 of the Auditor-General’s Report was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.

Nik Azman said a performance audit to evaluate whether government programmes, activities and projects were carried out efficiently, effectively and prudently was also carried out.

For Series 2 of the Report, seven performance audits worth RM66.862bil were done, involving seven ministries.

“Overall, the implementation of government activities, programmes and projects had met the desired objectives.

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“However, there are still weaknesses, such as output targets and efficacy were not fully achieved.

“This was due to negligence in abiding to procedures that were set by the government and lack of care in its planning,” he said.

For this, the Auditor-General had presented 21 recommendations for the ministries, departments and agencies to consider.