Digitisation Crucial to Eradicating Corruption, Says Auditor General Niyazi

In a significant move to combat corruption, Auditor General Hussain Niyazi has emphasised the importance of digitising the public procurement system. Speaking at the International Anti-Corruption Day ceremony, Niyazi highlighted that audit reports and investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) frequently uncover issues of documentation fraud, which often lead to corrupt practices. He stated that digitising systems related to document submission and record-keeping could significantly mitigate these issues. 'If procurement is digitised, it will provide a major boost to ensuring integrity,' Niyazi said, aligning this initiative with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's digitalisation policy, Maldives 2.0. Additionally, Niyazi called for legislative changes to facilitate the investigation of corruption cases, particularly in recovering lost state property and funds. The event also saw the launch of the ACC's Research Manual, Policy Manual, and Monitoring and Compliance Manual, along with a study on corruption in government projects and a conflict of interest guideline.