PUTRAJAYA will look into amending the Audit Act 1957 to strengthen the National Audit Department, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the cabinet had in principle agreed to give more freedom to the National Audit Department.

“Strictly speaking, it is under the Prime Minister’s Department, but it doesn’t mean that the prime minister should have authority over the auditor-general.

“What has happened in the past is the PM directs the auditor-general to go audit this and not audit that. That is wrong.

“The auditor-general must be free to take action on what he or she thinks (is right),” he said after chairing a special cabinet committee on anti-corruption in Putrajaya.

Last year, The Edge Markets reported Putrajaya was seeking to place the National Audit Department under the purview of Parliament, instead of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Dr Mahathir had said this was decided at the new government’s third meeting of the cabinet select committee on anti-corruption.

“This means the prime minister and the government will not have the power to dismiss or demote positions under the auditor-general office.” – July 18, 2019.