[UPDATED] Govt can save RM6 bil if auditor-general’s advice heeded: Anwar

PUTRAJAYA – The federal government can save RM6 billion if the mistakes identified by the auditor-general are corrected, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

These problems have been highlighted repeatedly by the auditor-general in previous reports, and showed that the biggest problem with the government administration is the way weaknesses are exploited to enrich a select few, Anwar said.

“If we can correct the weaknesses made by political leaders and civil servants that have been mentioned repeatedly by the auditor-general, I’m confident RM6 billion can be saved.

“That’s from the auditor-general report,” Anwar said, adding that the cabinet had studied the latest report, the Auditor-General’s Report 2021, at its weekly meeting yesterday.

“From studying and reviewing big projects, as well as the performance of our enforcement bodies, if all this is done carefully and responsibly, I am confident billions more can be saved.”

Anwar was delivering his prime ministerial mandate on Developing a Madani Malaysia here today.

“All previous weaknesses must be stopped. The biggest weakness for me is the way we administer (the government).

“I think if we can govern and administer well, we can face the coming economic downturn with far more confidence,” he added.

“Malaysia Madani”, his vision for the country after becoming the 10th prime minister following the general election last year, is meant as a framework to guide Malaysia’s development.

Madani, as an acronym, stands for words in Bahasa Malaysia that mean “Sustainability, Care and Compassion, Respect, Innovation, Prosperity, and Trust”.

Anwar said his government will apply this framework to eight thrusts for the country, which he identified as finance and the economy, laws, education, culture, society, cities and urban development, and rural areas. 

In English, “madani” means civil or civilised.

Anwar said the Malaysia Madani framework would enable the country’s reputation to be restored to that of a fair and prosperous nation for all people, regardless of race and creed.

The framework would also drive the government’s restructuring of the economy towards a sustainable and corruption-free one. – The Vibes, January 19, 2023