KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Follow-up action on audits by the National Audit Department has contributed to revenue collection and repayments to the government amounting to RM920.91 million as at Sept 28, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

She said the figure demonstrated the effectiveness of audits when identified findings were followed by appropriate action.

“This is not a small amount. It proves that audits followed by action can result in tangible recovery of public funds,” she said when tabling a motion on the Auditor General’s Report (LKAN) 2/2026 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Azalina said all ministries, departments and agencies should not view audit findings as “an attack”, but rather as an opportunity to rectify weaknesses, improve systems and safeguard public funds.

She said LKAN 2/2026, which was tabled on Oct 5, comprises two main volumes covering the 2025 Federal Government Financial Statements and a performance audit of four ministry, department and agency programmes or activities.

According to Azalina, 38 recommendations were made in the report, with follow-up action required to address questions concerning the parties responsible, corrective measures, completion timelines and methods for monitoring progress.

As such, she said the debate on the LKAN in the Dewan Rakyat was important to ensure that accountability did not end after an audit report was tabled.

“Audit must lead to action. Findings must lead to corrective measures. Weaknesses must lead to improvements,” she said.

She also called on state legislative assemblies to provide room for the LKAN to be examined and debated openly, rather than merely being tabled for information, to ensure that the principle of accountability is applied at every level of government.

Azalina also said amendments to the Audit Act 1957 in 2024 had strengthened the institution of the Auditor General, including through an expanded audit scope, the Follow the Public Money Audit approach, powers to issue audit guidelines and conduct follow-up audits.

She said institutional reform initiatives, including freedom of information, political financing reform and the establishment of the Malaysian Ombudsman, complemented the audit function by emphasising prevention, transparency and accountability from the outset. — Bernama