Former Auditor-General of Malaysia
Tan Sri Dato' Setia Hj. (Dr.) Ambrin bin Buang was appointed as the Auditor-General of Malaysia on 22 February 2006, following his retirement from a distinguished career spanning over 35 years in the Malaysian Civil Service. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Malaya (1971) and a Master’s Degree in International Business from the University of South Carolina, USA (1981). Throughout his career, Tan Sri Ambrin gained extensive experience, beginning with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, where he served from 1971 to 1982, and was appointed Deputy Director of the Small Scale Industries Division in 1981. His professional journey also included key roles at the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (1982-1987) and the National Institute of Public Administration (July 1987-1991).
Between 1992 and March 1995, Tan Sri Ambrin served as Minister for Economic Affairs and Deputy Head of Mission at the Malaysian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. He later took on the role of Senior General Manager at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Berhad from April 1995 to February 1999. Subsequently, he was appointed as the State Secretary of the Selangor State Government (March 1999-September 2001), and later as Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education, before his eventual appointment as Auditor-General.
Tan Sri Ambrin has been recognized with several prestigious awards from both the Federal and State Governments and has served as a Board Member of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity as well as a member of the Selangor Royal Chamber. Over the past decade, he has been a frequent speaker and panellist at numerous seminars and conferences, sharing his insights on public sector auditing, good governance, and integrity, both locally and internationally. He has authored a book titled "Issues and Challenges of Public Sector Auditing" and has contributed to 11 departmental journals on the subject.
In 2016, Tan Sri Ambrin was named a Fellow of INTAN, and in 2017, he received honorary doctorates from both the National University of Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). His published works include "From AS to AG: Reminiscence of a PTD Officer," "Escaping from the Dungeon: Secrets of Corporate Leadership," and "The Flintstones Management: How Integrity and Compassion Can Boost Your Organization."
From 2018 to July 2021, Tan Sri Ambrin was appointed Chairman of the Special Investigation Committee on Governance, Procurement, and Finance by the Malaysian Government. In the same year, he was appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputra. On 1 January 2021, he assumed the role of Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Lembaga Zakat Selangor, responsible for managing zakat (charitable donations) collection and distribution in Selangor. He further expanded his distinguished career by joining the Board of Gamuda Berhad on 28 September 2018. On 1 February 2023, he assumed the position of Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Gamuda Berhad. He continues to serve as a member of the Dewan DiRaja Selangor.