New Heads of SAIs

Bhutan

Mr. Ugen Chewang, formally took over as the Auditor General of Bhutan, Royal Audit Authority (the SAI of Bhutan) on 13th January 2006. Mr. Ugen Chewang was born in the year 1956 at Chenary, Deothang, Samdrup Jongkhar. He started his early education from Deothang Primary School, completed High School from Paro in 1974, did Bachelor of Commerce from Punjab University, India in 1978 and completed Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Syracuse University, USA in the year 1985. Mr. Ugen Chewang began his career as an auditor in 1979. He served in the Royal Audit Authority in various capacities from trainee officer, Assistant Audit Officer to the Deputy Auditor General. Mr. Ugen Chewang was promoted and transferred as the Director of the National Pension and Provident Fund Bureau in 2000. He introduced pension system in Bhutan for the first time. After serving in the NPPF for the last six years, Mr. Ugen Chewang is now appointed as the Auditor General of Royal Audit Authority of Bhutan under a Royal Decree.

Japan

Mr. Muneharu Otsuka, one of three Commissioners of the Board of Audit of Japan, was appointed as President of the Board of Audit on January 27, 2006, succeeding Mr. Nobuaki Morishita, who retired on January 20, 2006.

Before assuming his former post as Commissioner of the Board in July 2002, Mr. Otsuka was a Professor of Commerce at Waseda University specializing in accounting for financial instrument. At the same time he worked for National Life Finance Corporation Research Institute as Executive Director. He was also a member of government advisory board regarding corporate accounting and derivatives. On his appointment as a Commissioner, he emphasized the importance of the Board’s involvement in international activities through INTOSAI, and ASOSAI as well as The Board of Audit’s auditing activities on Japan’s public finance. Mr. Otsuka participated in the OECD World Forum–Statistics, Knowledge and Policy in Palermo in 2004. In a related move, Mr. Kazuhiko Fushiya was appointed as one of the Commissioners of the Board on January 23, 2006. He used to work for the Ministry of Finance. On his career in the Ministry of Finance, he held prominent positions such as Secretary of National Tax Agency. A Commissioner serves for a term of seven years or until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. The President of the Board is appointed by the Cabinet on the basis of peer election among three commissioners. For additional information, contact: Board of Audit of Japan; send e-mail to: liaison@jbaudit.go.jp; or visit our web site: www.jbaudit.go.jp/engl.

Kyrgyzstan

Mr. Nadybek Turganbaev, born on 15th July 1955, has been appointed Chairman of the Accounts Chamber of the Kyrgyz Republic with effect from April 3, 2006. Mr. Turganbaev has graduated from the Kyrgyz State University in 1981. He is married and has five children.

He has a varied work experience in various Government Departments/sectors since 1982. He has worked in “Osh regional trade union” as an instructor (1982-1984); Osh regional association “Oshstroimaterialy”, Head of Division, Deputy Director General (1984-1991); Ministry of industrial and construction materials of the Kyrgyz Republic, head of department (1991-1992); The State Stock company “Kyrgyzmunaizat”, first vice-President (1992-1996); The State Custom Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, first Deputy Chairman (1996-1998); Ministry of environment protection of the Kyrgyz Republic, Deputy Minister (1999-2001): Regional division of the Financial Policy on Bishkek city, Head (2001-2005 and Financial Policy Service of the Kyrgyz Republic, Advisor of the chairman on legal matters (2005-April 2006

Malaysia

Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Haji Ambrin bin Buang was appointed the Auditor General of Malaysia on 22 February 2006 upon his retirement after having served the Government (Malaysian Civil Service) for over 35 years.

Prior to this appointment, he was the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education Malaysia, a post he held since October in 2001.

Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Haji Ambrin was born on 24 March 1949. He has a Bachelor degree in Economics (with Honours) from University of Malaya (1971) and Master in International Business from University of South Carolina, USA (1981).

His working career includes experience in the Ministry of Trade and Industry from 1971 to 1982 and was appointed as Deputy Director, Small Scale Industries Division in 1981. He had also served in Malaysian Timber Industry Board from 1982 to 1987, and National Institute of Public Administration from July 1987 to 1991.

Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Haji Ambrin has also served at the Malaysian Mission in Tokyo, Japan from 1992 to March 1995 as Minister for Economic Affairs and Deputy Head of Mission. He was a Senior General Manager for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Berhad from April 1995 to February 1999 and the State Secretary of the Selangor State Government from March 1999 to September 2001. Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Haji Ambrin is currently a member of the Selangor Royal Chamber.

For his services, he has been awarded several decorations from the Federal Government such as Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) which carries the title TAN SRI (2005), Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) in 1990, as well as from State government of Selangor that is Darjah Paduka Mahkota Selangor (DPMS) which carries the title DATO’ in 2000 and conferred decoration from His Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor Darjah Dato’ Setia Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (SSIS) which carries the title DATO’SETIA on 11 December 2005.