RCI TH: I Don’t Understand What ‘Sakau’ Means – Former Auditor – General

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Auditor-General Tan Sri Madinah Mohamad said she did not find any evidence of theft in Tabung Haji (TH) while leading the National Audit Department.

She, who served from 2017 to 2019, explained that the 2017 Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) conducted with her team at that time was based on standards and audit evidence.

If there were any findings related to theft, Madinah stressed that she would be the first person to report the matter to the authorities.

“During my time as Auditor-General, I did not see any such evidence (of theft). If my team and I had found such evidence, not only would I not hide it, I would highlight it further, and report it to the authorities.

“My mandate is very clear. We conducted audits based on standards, based on audit evidence, and we have issued statements or certificates.

“Does it mention any misappropriation or theft? Is it mentioned? No. So Datuk (referring to a participant), I’m sorry, I cannot answer and I do not understand what ‘sakau’ means. I stand on solid ground,” she said at the National Consultative Programme ‘Reality and Perception: Do Not Politicise Tabung Haji’, here, today.

Madinah said this when answering a question from one of the participants at the programme who wanted to know if there was any theft or misappropriation when she conducted the audit on TH.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, Majlis Amanah Rakyat Chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, and PAS Secretary-General Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

Commenting on whether her testimony, if present at the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) proceedings, would change the report produced by the commission, Madinah indicated that it might produce different findings.

Madinah said she leaves it to the RCI to determine whether the matter is seen as a mitigating factor, including regarding allegations that the Auditor-General was not firm in carrying out her duties.

“What I would say (if called) is the same thing I have explained today.

“Whether the RCI views that matter as a mitigating factor and does not consider the Auditor-General as being lenient, that is not within my knowledge,” she said further.

Citing media reports on August 13, Madinah expressed regret for not being called to the proceedings by the TH RCI, despite being willing to provide testimony to the investigation panel.

On July 29, the 211-page RCI report was made public, containing various findings regarding management and operational weaknesses of the institution for the period from 2014 to 2020.

The report also contained 25 recommendations for improvement measures, 75 percent of which had been implemented by TH as of July 30.

Astro Awani