Opposition questions Wan Suraya's appointment as auditor-general

Summary 

• Opposition MPs question Auditor-General Wan Suraya’s appointment, claiming it violates requirements on independence from the executive due to her supposed role as a civil servant.

• They allege the National Audit Department is being instructed to be a “cheerleader” for government programmes, risking conflicts of interest in future audits.

• Several backbenchers defend Wan Suraya, insisting her appointment does not undermine the credibility of audit reports.

PARLIAMENT | Opposition MPs have lashed out at Auditor-General Wan Suraya Wan Radzi, questioning whether her appointment adheres to stipulated rules and slamming the National Audit Department’s alleged involvement in government programmes.

In debating the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report Series 2, released on Monday, several lawmakers argued that the auditor-general’s position should not be occupied by a civil servant.

Bersatu chief whip Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) pointed out that the auditor-general, who holds office under the Federal Constitution, must be an independent individual with no ties to the executive branch and is no longer part of the country’s administrative structure.

Claiming that Wan Suraya (above) is still a civil servant, Ronald pressed the government to address whether her appointment fulfils the stipulated conditions and requirements concerning a separation from the executive.

“Prior to this, the auditor-general had always been appointed from those who have retired (from public service), but the current auditor-general is a civil servant, which raises doubts as to whether her appointment will allow an independent office free from the executive’s influence,” he said.

Wan Suraya was appointed auditor-general in June 2023, with then-chief secretary Zuki Ali noting that her appointment was based on her leadership qualities and vast experience in her 29 years of public service.

He also said the appointment had received the consent of the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, after consultation with the Conference of Rulers.

Under Article 105 of the Federal Constitution, the auditor-general is appointed by the Agong on the prime minister’s advice.  

Wan Suraya previously served as the secretary-general for the National Unity Ministry from 2020 to 2021, and for the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry from 2018 to 2020.

She was also Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry deputy secretary-general from 2016 to 2018.

Cheerleading for Madani

Ronald also asserted that the National Audit Department has been openly involved in government programmes, with officers allegedly instructed to attend Madani functions to be “cheerleaders”. 

“(Department staffers) are also ordered to like all postings by the auditor-general on Facebook and an RM250 reward is given to those who like the posts most often,” Ronald claimed. 

His fellow Bersatu MP, Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya), also furnished the Dewan with an online post by the department, which allegedly promoted a government event to be held on July 26 in Taiping.

“After further checks, I found that this programme involves ministries and government agencies, particularly the Implementation Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department. How can the government instruct the National Audit Department to be involved in this event? 

“What if the programme has to be audited one day? How will the National Audit Department fulfil its duties when it was a supporter and promoter of the event? It will be a ‘self-review’ trap as the department will have to check something it was involved in,” Radzi said.

Skipping PAC due to conflict of interest

Ronald, meanwhile, also alleged that Wan Suraya had declined to attend proceedings conducted by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), opting instead to send a representative.

“Is this because of interference and pressure from the executive? That is what I want to know - is this a new path for the Madani government to erode the duties and effectiveness of the PAC after appointing an opposition MP to chair the committee?” he questioned. 

In her debate, PAC chairperson Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) affirmed that Wan Suraya had indeed applied to be excused from PAC’s proceedings, supposedly citing “conflict of interest”.

The Bersatu women’s chief stressed that the matter has raised concerns, particularly since an exemption on such grounds has never before been requested in the past.

Chiming in on the matter, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) insisted that if Wan Suraya’s appointment is found to have gone against established rules, the credibility of audit reports approved during her tenure would be impacted.

‘Don’t give up’

However, several backbenchers, including DAP MP Khoo Poay Tiong (Harapan-Kota Melaka) and PKR’s Sim Tze Tzin (Harapan-Bayan Baru), came to Wan Suraya’s defence against the opposition onslaught. 

Khoo highlighted that the National Audit Department’s efforts to produce its report cannot be denied by opposition MPs, insisting that she has managed to execute her duties well and should be thanked.

“I hope the National Audit Department does not give up due to attacks from the opposition,” he said. 

Sim, who is also a PAC member, accused Bersatu MP Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) of misleading the Dewan when the latter claimed that the audit report being debated by lawmakers had selectively chosen specific ministries for its probes. 

Debates on the audit report will continue before the Dewan at 2.30pm. 

Reporting by Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain, Zarrah Morden, Shakira Buang 

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