Kuala Lumpur, 26 January 2026 – Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged the National Audit Department to adopt new strategic initiatives that will strengthen its impact and ensure that government spending delivers the greatest possible benefit to the Malaysian public.
In remarks delivered on Monday, the Prime Minister emphasised that the Audit Department’s role must evolve beyond traditional compliance checks to become a proactive driver of accountability, efficiency and public value in the implementation of national and state-level programmes. He said that maximising benefits for the people should remain at the core of all audit activities, particularly as the government implements key economic and social initiatives across sectors.
Focus on Innovation and Public Outcomes
The Prime Minister highlighted the need for the National Audit Department to leverage innovative audit approaches and technologies that can better track outcomes, improve transparency and reduce wastage. This, he said, includes enhancing performance audits, deepening risk-based reviews and tapping data analytics to generate insights that support better decision-making by ministries and agencies.
“Audit is not only about oversight, it is also about adding value,” he said. “We must continue to improve how we assess public sector programmes so that every ringgit spent delivers measurable impact for the people of Malaysia.”
The Prime Minister underscored that audits should focus on public outcomes, such as the quality of service delivery, effectiveness of public investments and the alignment of programmes with national priorities.
Strengthening Public Confidence and Good Governance
The call for stronger audit initiatives comes amid broader government efforts to bolster good governance, transparency and public trust. The Prime Minister noted that a robust audit function plays a vital role in safeguarding public resources, detecting inefficiencies and deterring mismanagement in both federal and state administration.
He urged the National Audit Department to continue working closely with relevant stakeholders — including Parliament, the anti-corruption agency and sector regulators, to ensure that audit findings are translated into meaningful corrective actions and systemic improvements.
Supporting National Development Goals
The Prime Minister also tied the audit function to the achievement of Malaysia’s long-term development goals, particularly under strategic frameworks such as the Madani Economy and other national plans. Audits, he said, should help align government programmes with priorities like inclusive growth, digital transformation, public service quality and sustainable development.
“We expect the National Audit Department to be a partner for progress, providing insights that help improve programme delivery and contribute directly to the well-being of our communities,” the Prime Minister said.
Moving Forward
The Prime Minister’s message signals a renewed emphasis on impact-oriented accountability mechanisms within the public sector. By encouraging the Audit Department to adopt new initiatives and expand its toolkit, the government aims to ensure that fiscal discipline and performance improvement go hand in hand, ultimately supporting stronger public services and greater citizen confidence in government operations.
