KUALA LUMPUR – Ministries must take ownership of any criticisms by the auditor-general even if the mistakes were made during previous administrations, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said the Auditor-General’s report for 2021 would be tabled in Parliament soon and urged ministers to heed the criticisms and findings of shortcomings so that the same mistakes will not be repeated.
“The report will refer to specific problems, not necessarily corruption as that is not its jurisdiction, but it is our task to look at it and if action needs to be taken, like if a report must be lodged, then it has to be done.
“My point is, every ministry must take it as their responsibility to look at criticism towards it, even if the mistake happened in the past,” Anwar told a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today.
He was also asked to elaborate on his earlier call for civil servants to speak up if they find instructions from ministers to be irregular or suspicious.
He said there were “mechanisms” for such feedback to be given by civil servants to ministers, such as post-cabinet meetings and by direct communications.
“If there is a mistake, we must address it. Sometimes, our culture is to remain quiet when (something) wrong is done,” Anwar added.
He was asked to elaborate on his remarks made on Monday when addressing an assembly of the Prime Minister’s Department staff. Anwar said then that civil servants should speak up if they are faced with “questionable” instructions or “minutes”, even if from a minister or the prime minister. – The Vibes, January 18, 2023
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