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PETALING JAYA: The government accepted in principle the proposal that the appointment of the head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) go through a constitutional process.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki (Photo) said the decision was made during the Cabinet Special Committee on Combating Corruption (JKKMAR), which was chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“If agreed, a MACC commissioner appointment in the future will require a two-thirds majority in Parliament and will have to go through a constitutional process,” he said in a live interview with MelakaFM on Wednesday (September 2).
Previously, related non-governmental organizations and members of civil society called on the government to ensure that the appointment or removal of the chief commissioners received the maximum public scrutiny.
Azam also noted that the committee accepted suggestions that the commissioner’s termination process will require going through a special court and cannot be terminated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong based on the advice of the Prime Minister.
He added that the JKKMAR also agreed that the MACC would form its own service commission.
“At the moment, any hiring or removal of our officials is done by the Public Services Commission.
Giving us the freedom to hire and fire our own officers and staff will be much better, as it shows that we are independent and transparent in our act, “added Azam.
He said all of the proposals are among the legislative reforms introduced for the MACC that are listed in the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023.
Azam noted that MACC at this time will focus its efforts on enforcement, among others, and on reducing leakage in government procurement.
Citing an example from the agency’s enforcement efforts, he gave the example of a case in Sabah, where the federal government had allocated RM1.5bil for a water supply project in the state.
“According to our research, the project actually cost half that amount and the other half was lost due to corruption.
“In that particular case, we arrested three high-ranking government officials who are on trial. We also seized cash for about RM 114,000. We found around RM 53,300 in cash in one of the officers’ houses,” Azam said .
“These cases concern us and I personally as an agent of the law in the country,” he said.
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