Thumbs-up to Sabah's financial management

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has been commended for its outstanding financial management among ministries, departments and agencies based on the National Audit Department's Accountability Index (AI).Auditor-General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad said more than 70 per cent of the ministries, departments and agencies audited in the State met the highest rating of five-star since 2013. She said a total of 25 of the 35 audited in 2015 received five-star rating.

"For last year, 22 of the 31 ministries, departments and agencies in Sabah achieved five-star rating.

In 2007, 2008 and 2009, only several ministries, departments and agencies achieved four-star (highest rating at that time). Sabah's rating has been rising year after year," she said at the Sabah Outstanding Financial Management Awards ceremony, here, Tuesday. Her speech was read by her deputy, Khalid Khan Abdullah Khan.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman officiated the ceremony and presented a pewter plaque and RM15,000 cash to each of the ministries, departments and agencies.

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Also present were State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, State Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Pg Hassanel Pg Mohd Tahir and other senior officials.

"I am very pleased with the encouraging improvement shown by Sabah," said Madinah, adding that eight ministries, departments and agencies successfully maintained their respective five-star rating in 2015 while 16 retained their five-star rating in 2016.

Furthermore, Madinah said, the financial management of four - Sabah Public Service Commission, State Youth and Sport Ministry, Tenom District Council and Kota Belud District Council - showed glaring improvement, from three-star to five-star rating in 2016.

She also disclosed that the department was in the process of upgrading the method of auditing based on AI so that it would mirror more precise financial management.

Generally, she said the upcoming audit of financial management would be carried out on a risk-based concept, which defines that each audit will set the risk as low, medium or high.

Meanwhile, Musa called on the ministries, departments and agencies that received five-star rating not to be complacent but to strive to further improve.

He said Sabah's outstanding financial management was due to healthy competition among the government ministries, departments and agencies.

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"The civil servants' quest for excellence made Sabah the State with the highest number of ministries, departments and agencies in the country with five-star rating in 2015.

"I am proud that most state agencies such as district councils are increasing keen to get recognition of excellence because they too want to succeed," he said. - Hayati Dzulkifli

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