(sav.gov.vn) - During the workshop on "Environmental Management and Protection in Industrial Clusters and Traditional Villages," hosted by the State Audit Office of Viet Nam (SAV), held on the morning of November 5th, participants shared and discussed practical knowledge and experience in environmental auditing in the specific context of respective countries.
Ms. Mya Thet Mon - Deputy Director General, Office of Auditor General of the Union of Myanmar (SAI Myanmar)
According to the INTOSAI guidelines, performance audits with an environmental perspective are generally divided into five categories: auditing compliance with government environmental laws and regulations; auditing the effectiveness of government environmental projects; auditing the environmental impacts of other government projects; auditing environmental management systems; and evaluating environmental policies and projects under planning.
Among these, SAI Myanmar has conducted audits in the second and fourth categories. Specifically, SAI Myanmar audited the environmental impact of drilling and oil extraction activities in the Magway and Mandalay regions. The audit led to significant findings concerning weaknesses in relevant laws, a lack of coordination between departments and stakeholders, and delays in implementing the environmental management plan.
SAI Myanmar also discovered that ineffective compliance monitoring and poor evaluation of implementation measures were contributing factors to oil spills that contaminated rivers and agricultural land, negatively affecting the local economy and society. The audit results helped improve the effectiveness of the environmental management plan processes and coordination among stakeholders who are responsible for overseeing oil drilling and extraction activities.
Ms. Jamiah Binti Amin - Deputy Director General of Performance Audit, National Audit Department of Malaysia (SAI Malaysia)
SAI Malaysia has conducted audits on the management of the national water resources, focusing on the economic, effectiveness, and efficiency of water resource management to meet human needs and ensure environmental sustainability.
In the course of auditing the national water resource management, SAI Malaysia found that 140 projects had been delayed behind the scheduled completion times, causing a loss of 4.753 billion Malaysian Ringgit. Moreover, the audit discovered that wastewater from sewage treatment plants was a significant source of pollution, with Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels estimated at 343.45 tons per day.
Through the audit, SAI Malaysia recommended enhancing monitoring of project completion and the development of water quality projects to meet the deadlines. It also proposed improving the control of pollution sources and treatment parameters to achieve more effective outcomes.
Mr. Mohd Adib Haji Md Noor - Auditor, Audit Department of Brunei Darussalam (SAI Brunei)
Brunei, a small nation located on Borneo Island, is divided into two separate parts surrounded by Malaysia and the South China Sea. With a population of 463,482 (as of 2024) and an area of only 5,765 km², Brunei contains large conservation areas, such as the "Brunei National Park," which occupies 40% of its forested area. The Borneo rainforest is among the oldest in the world. Oil and gas extraction activities are conducted with a focus on avoiding deforestation. Brunei oversees all activities that may cause pollution or impact the environment.
To safeguard the environment from pollution, Brunei enacted the Environmental Protection and Management Order in 2016 and the Hazardous Waste Order (Controlling imports, exports, and transits) in 2013. To control industrial pollution, Brunei has developed guidelines to regulate air emissions, wastewater discharges, and industrial development. These guidelines provide investors with directions on assessing the environmental impact of their projects and the steps to take to avoid, minimize, and mitigate negative effects.
In its role, SAI Brunei conducts environmental audits to ensure compliance with environmental protection laws and regulations, including hazardous waste control. If serious findings are discovered, the issues are transferred to higher authorities such as the Minister or relevant agencies.
Mr. Umar Syarifuddin - Auditor, Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (SAI Indonesia)
According to Indonesia's 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan, the country focuses on developing ten prioritised tourist destinations and five leading tourism areas. Government pays special support for these locations through infrastructure projects and tourism development. Indonesia has also identified six key sectors for tourism recovery, including business travel combined with leisure, eco-tourism and adventure, medical tourism, cultural and heritage tourism, culinary tourism, and tourism villages.
In Indonesia, audits of tourism villages and the assessment of the environmental impacts of have been conducted in Toba District - a hidden tourism village, heaven. In which, Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world, located in this district, spanning 114,500 hectares, bordering seven districts and 129 traditional villages, is the national top prioritised tourist attract. The Toba tourism village offers a unique blend of culture, nature, and local knowledge, making it ideal for community-based tourism that integrates culture with local expertise.
Through the audits, SAI Indonesia recommended that the government consider local knowledge when developing tourism infrastructure in Toba District.