Wan Suraya's Appointment As Auditor General Is Constitutionally Valid - Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA, July 25 (Bernama) -- The appointment of Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi as Auditor General is lawful and does not contravene the Federal Constitution, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi, who is also the MADANI Government spokesperson, said that the matter was confirmed by Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar during today’s Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“From a constitutional perspective, there is no issue. The appointment aligns with what is clearly stated in the Federal Constitution,” he told reporters during a post-Cabinet press conference today.

According to Article 105 of the Federal Constitution and the provisions of subparagraph 1(1) of the First Schedule to the Audit Act 1957 [Act 62], the Auditor General may be appointed from among members of the public service.

The clarification comes amid recent claims from several quarters alleging that Wan Suraya’s appointment as Auditor General was unconstitutional.

Critics argued that the role should be held by someone who has already retired or formally resigned from the civil service, to preserve the independence of the office from the executive branch.

Wan Suraya, who previously served as the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) chief executive officer, was appointed Auditor General effective June 13, 2023.

Her distinguished career includes prior roles as secretary-general at both the Ministry of National Unity and the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development, as well as serving as deputy secretary-general (Strategy and Monitoring) at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

-- BERNAMA