Auditor General Appointment Constitutional Says Fahmi

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Auditor-General Wan Suraya Wan Radzi’s appointment is constitutional and followed all necessary procedures, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said.
He cited Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar as telling the cabinet in a meeting today that Wan Suraya ceased being an administrative and diplomatic officer upon her appointment as the auditor-general.
“At today’s meeting, the chief secretary to the government explained that in terms of the Constitution, there were no issues because the appointment process was in accordance with what was stated and enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
“At the same time, the chief secretary to the government also informed the cabinet that Wan Suraya had ceased to be an administrative and diplomatic officer when she agreed to become the auditor-general.
ADS“This means that there were no issues because she was an administrative and diplomatic officer (but) is no longer one when she assumed the role of the auditor-general,” Fahmi told a press conference at his ministry in Putrajaya today.
The Public Services Department will be issuing a statement on the matter, he added.
Communications Minister Fahmi FadzilOn July 23, while debating the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report Series 2, opposition MPs had questioned whether Wan Suraya’s appointment adhered to stipulated rules.
Several lawmakers argued that the auditor-general’s position should not be occupied by a civil servant.
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.
She 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.
Still a civil servant
Later this evening, the Attorney-General’s Chambers issued a statement clarifying Wan Suraya’s status as a civil servant.
It said the auditor-general can be selected from civil servants as provided for in Article 105 of the Federal Constitution and the First Schedule of the Audit Act 1957.
“Although she is no longer a member of the administrative and diplomatic officer service scheme, the auditor-general still continues to be a member of the general public service based on Section 3 of Act 62 (Audit Act).
“Given that her appointment as the auditor-general was in order, there is no need for her to be retired in the country’s interests,” it said. - Mkini

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