KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is among the five states that received the Auditor General's certificate for having an "unmodified opinion" on the state government's financial statements for the year ending Dec 31, 2023, submitted between January and June this year.
Auditor General (AG) Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, in a statement regarding the AG's report (LKAN 3/2024) on government and state agencies presented in Parliament, said the five states that received this certification were Johor, Pahang, Perak, Sarawak and Sabah.
This achievement was a testament to the strong financial governance and transparency practised by the Sabah government, said Assistant Minister to the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan.
"Under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Pakatan Harapan Plus (GRS-PH Plus), we remain committed to ensuring that public funds are managed responsibly.
"This recognition from the AG proves that Sabah is indeed under good and financially stable leadership," said Nizam.
He emphasised that this success did not come by chance; the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan was the main key to the progress and stability of the state.
"This plan focuses on comprehensive and continuous development, including the economic, social, and infrastructure sectors, ensuring that we can provide opportunities to all levels of society," said Nizam.
Through this plan, he said Sabah did not ignore the importance of using public funds carefully in critical areas.
"The fact that Sabah's financial statements have been received without any issues or objections shows that we are on the right track towards fiscal stability and long-term growth," said Nizam.
This also reflected the state's continuous efforts in implementing development programmes that focused on the needs of the people, as well as the commitment to ensure the welfare of the people of Sabah, he said.
"I would like to express my appreciation to all departments, agencies, and stakeholders who have played a role in maintaining this high level of financial accountability," said Nizam.
The Sabah government would continue to prioritise the well-being of the people through careful financial management and ensure that the state remained an example of good governance in Malaysia, he said.