PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim will continue working to improve governance to eradicate leakages and wastage.

He said good governance is vital to attract investments as well as to protect the safety of the people and the nation’s borders.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said he had met the heads of departments and enforcement agencies to discuss the agenda at the Finance Ministry yesterday.

“It is estimated that the country suffers a revenue loss of RM5 billion per year (from leakages and wastage) while financial crimes cause an estimated loss of RM70 billion in tax revenue a year.

“Looking at the increasingly complex trend of financial crime, I instructed the unity and cooperation of government agencies be more proactive and effective,” he said on Facebook last night.

He said that legal practices related to the management of confiscated and forfeited assets will be improved along international governance standards.

“The National Anti-Financial Crime Centre must enhance its monitoring operations,” he said.

Meanwhile, he thanked the agencies working to eradicate financial crime, besides calling for the cooperation and involvement of the people in participating in these efforts.

“It is a great hope of mine and the people of Malaysia for all agency personnel to continue this noble effort and carry out the trust with full integrity to raise the dignity of the country,” he said. – Bernama, August 24, 2023.