KUALA LUMPUR, 9 September 2025 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivered a pointed message to Malaysia’s audit community and public institutions: robust governance and accountability are non-negotiable in the fight against long-standing financial leakages and corruption. Speaking at the 2025 Asian Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditors (ACIIA) conference, Anwar emphasized the critical role played by internal auditors in safeguarding institutional integrity and public trust.
Drawing on painful lessons from Malaysia’s past, he pointedly referenced high-profile scandals such as 1MDB, noting that such breaches of public trust could not occur without the complicity of auditors and international financial institutions. “We must take this as a challenge and save our society and nation from these transgressions,” Anwar declared, framing integrity not as a burden but as a foundational asset.
The Prime Minister called on internal audit professionals to elevate ethical standards and uphold their duty conscientiously across all levels of governance. He warned that failure to strengthen internal accountability would continue to expose the nation to financial abuse and systemic vulnerabilities. His remarks also underscored a broader reform agenda around transparency and institutional reform.
Anwar’s address comes amid intensified national efforts to entrench governance reforms, including initiatives like the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024–2028, and renewed calls for stronger oversight across both public and private sectors. His speech resonated with growing public demand for transparency and the strengthening of checks and balances across Malaysia’s institutions.
