MCAC – do it fast

The Prime Minister has announced that the ACA will be restructured to become an Independent body for fighting corruption– Malaysian Commission for Anti Corruption (MCAC). This is a significant move for reform, and if really a fully independent commission can be set up, it should be welcome news for Malaysians, even if it has come a bit late — but better late than never.

I have been vocal in asking for an Independent Commission for corrupt Practices. I have forgotten how many articles and letters I have written on this. I will just quote one of the letters published in Malaysiakini on 18 September 2006 below, since the points are still valid, for the readers who have not read it before.

Before quoting the letter, I have these few points to make:

1. The commission has to be truly independent. It is only answerable to a select committee of the PArliament consisting of government and opposition MPs.

2. To be truly independent, no politicians or businessmen, past or present,  should serve in the commission. Its members have to be those of high integrity, consisting of outstanding people from the academia, from the professions, from the civil service or diplomatic service, NGOs. The appointment should be made by the Agung on the recommendation of the Parliamentary committee.

3. It must have separate power of investigations as well as prosecution, without going through the police or AG chambers.

4. The commissioners must have their assets declared yearly in media such as newspapers as well as internet websites.

5. It should have the power to investigate anyone, perhaps with the exception of the Agung as the Head of the country. It should have the power to call anyone including the PM for questioning and investigation.

6. There should be a new class of investigating officers who should be newly recruited and should be sent to Hong Kong for training. No police officers should be seconded from the police force.

I have also proposed a structure of a ICAC in my of my earlier posts. The commissioners will sit on a supervisory committee overseeing the Chief Investigating Officer.

I hope that the formation of this commission as well as the Judicial Commission can be set up as soon as possible, possibly within 100 days. This will show the resolve of the PM to introduce reform.

For those who want to read my letter published in 2006 , Please click on this link.

Dr Koh Tsu koon on an Independent ACA

This is an article posted by Sdr H’ng Khoon Leng in his blog Putih Hitm Kelabu:

An Independent ACA will be more effective

An independent Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) will make it more effective in combating corruption and enhancing integrity in the public service.

“It will be a concrete mechanism in realizing the objectives of the National Integrity Plan or Pelan Integriti Nasional (PIN) launched by the Prime Minister in 2004.

“It will also give greater confidence to the ordinary people when they want to report on corruption cases,” said Gerakan’s Acting President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon in welcoming the ACA’s proposal to be an independent body.

“This will also show the seriousness of our Barisan Nasional Government in fulfilling a key promise in our Manifestos in both 2004 and 2008 Elections”

Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Dato’ Seri Nazri Aziz revealed yesterday that the ACA had submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister to allow it to operate along similar lines to Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Dr Koh said that Gerakan has long called for an independent ACA, especially since a workshop and a series of discussion was held in the late 90’s.

Moreover, Gerakan Founding President the late Prof Dato’ Syed Hussein Alatas was an academic authority on the study of corruption. Therefore Gerakan will continue to pursue and support all measures to combat corruption including strengthening the ACA as an independent body.