NEWLY appointed Auditor General Madinah Mohamad refused to comment when asked if she would declassify the auditor general’s report on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). 

The former secretary-general of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and Education Ministry only said negative publicity surrounding her appointment would not stop her from performing her duties as auditor general. 

She was referring to reports that her husband, an Umno leader, had pledged support for Najib Razak, saying he was willing to die for the prime minister.

“All of that is behind me now because I’m now concentrating fully on my task, and I think I have a lot to deliver to the people and government,” she was quoted as saying. 

She added that she has the full support of the National Audit Department in carrying out her duties. 

“I have the support of all those in the audit department and I look forward to presenting my first report to Parliament,” she was quoted as saying.

This is the first time that Madinah has addressed the issue of her partiality after her appointment. The previous auditor general Ambrin Buang classified the audit report on 1MDB in July 2016 after excerpts of it was published online by the Sarawak Report website.

Madinah’s appointment on February 20 raised eyebrows following her husband’s declaration that he would die for Najib at an Umno meeting. 

“I am willing to die for Najib. Don’t touch Najib. If I am to die, I want to die with Najib. This is our (Kepong Umno) vow. To die in politics is better than to die for nothing,” Madinah’s husband, Kepong Umno chief Rizuan Abd Hamid said. – April 26, 2017.