KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — Tan Sri Ambrin Buang will be replaced by Tan Sri Madinah Mohamad as Auditor-General on February 23, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa announced today.

Ali said that Ambrin's tenure was ending on February 22, and Madinah's appointment will be for two years beginning Thursday.

"The government records its highest gratitude and thanks to Tan Sri Ambrin Buang for his service since his appointment as Auditor-General on February 23, 2006, especially his efforts in transforming and restructuring the government's auditing system and reinforcing its financial management systems,” he said in a statement.

Ali said the appointment was made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Madinah retired as chief secretary of the Education Ministry last year. He had also held the same post at the Science, Innovation and Technology Ministry before that.

Ambrin was named as the A-G in 2006, and was also a former chief secretary at the Education Ministry.

He was responsible for revamping the once-annual reporting of his agency’s audits of ministries, federal agencies, government-linked corporations and state governments to thrice yearly.

As Auditor-General, Ambrin oversaw some of the country's largest controversies such as the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal involving Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil and her husband.

Ambrin was also in charge of the federal audit of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) that was ordered by Najib.

The audit report remains classified under the Official Secrets Act and PKR MP Rafizi Ramli is currently on trial for allegedly releasing excerpts of the report.