Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid has been appointed as the new auditor-general, announced the chief secretary to the government Ismail Bakar.

The appointment would be for two years effective Feb 23. His tenure expires on Feb 22, 2021.

Nik Azman, 60, replaces Madinah Mohamad who was appointed in 2017 during former premier Najib Abdul Razak's administration. Her term ended on Feb 22.

In a statement this morning, Ismail said Nik Azman holds a bachelor's degree in Applied Economics from Universiti Malaya and a degree in Economics from the University of Nebraska in the United States.

“Azman has wide experience in the fields of finance and economy.

“Prior to this, he served in the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Economic Planning Unit, the World Bank in Washington DC, Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister's Department,” he added.

PM: Select committee to decide on appointments

Last August, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Auditor-General's Department would be removed from the Prime Minister's Department and placed under a parliamentary select committee.

He said the cabinet in a special meeting on anti-corruption measures agreed to set up the select committee in a move to devolve the Prime Minister's Department's and the government's powers in the execution of anti-corruption enforcement measures.

He said the committee would also decide on the appointment of the auditor-general and members of the MACC as well as budget allocations for the two bodies.

"Auditing is a very important part (in government), as it is through audits that we can know whether the country or the government's financial management has been carried out according to the law and regulations.

“Currently, auditing is under the prime minister and choosing the auditor-general is done by the PM through advice to the Yang diPertuan Agong.

"But now, we will transfer the appointment of the auditor-general to this parliamentary select committee. This means, the PM and government do not have the power to punish, or take action like transferring or demoting," he added.

Mahathir added the decision was part of the Harapan administration’s efforts to tighten management of the country's finances.

It is unclear if Nik Azman's appointment went through the select committee.

In December, it was announced that six new bipartisan parliamentary select committees have been formed to scrutinise the federal government.

Each committee will have seven members and is headed by a Harapan lawmaker. The opposition has been allocated two places in each committee.

The six committees are tasked with the following areas: 

• Budget
• State and federal relations
• Consideration of bills
• Defence and home affairs
• Major public appointments
• Rights and gender equality