Panel wants MACC under parliamentary purview

The Consultative and Corruption Prevention Panel (PPPR) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has proposed that the MACC be placed under a Special Parliamentary Committee.

"We are of the view that the MACC in its present form won't be able to unshackle itself from public perception and assumption over its independence, integrity and capability," said PPPR chairman Datuk Johan Jaafar.

The government should take into account the views, criticisms and allegations from all quarters pertaining to the reputation and image of the MACC prior to, during and after the 13th general election (GE13).

"It is our belief that most of the criticisms and allegations levelled against the MACC were baseless and ill-intentioned.

"Nevertheless, the MACC will continue to face the question of perception, as long as it remains in its present status," he said in a statement here today.

On June 1, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said to enhance the integrity and credibility of the Election Commission (EC), the government decided to transfer the supervisory function of the EC to a Special Parliamentary Committee comprising members from the government and the opposition.

Johan said the public at large believed that the MACC was just another government department, subservient to the powers that be or to the executive.

"This is contrary to reality. The fact is that the MACC was premised on the nation's supreme law, the Federal Constitution.

"Our panel takes cognisance of the new spirit of openness of the government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib to think out of the box in tackling various issues pertaining to public perceptions.

"In fact, the stress on fighting corruption became part of the "Aku Janji" or pledge by the Barisan Nasional (BN) during GE13.

In this regard, Johan said PPPR urged the government to take the following five steps immediately:

* Set up an independent and bipartisan panel comprising both sides of the political divide to review the relevant Acts and Provisions to enable the MACC to be placed under a Special Parliamentary Committee;

* Provide a suitable timeline to realise this proposal;

* The Commission to be formed would need to undergo a name change to include the word 'Independent' to become the Independent Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (IMACC) along the model adopted by such bodies in other countries. The word "Independent" would inject a strong meaning that suits the new image of the MACC.

* Ensure that the new terms and conditions of service of the Chief Commissioner of the MACC befit his new status.

* The appointment of the Chief Commissioner be done based on the model of 'Congressional Hearing' in the United States whereby the candidate or nominee of the President to any strategic post has to go through the Congressional Hearing.

Johan said as such, only individuals who make the grade at the hearing could be confirmed in their respective appointments.

"The panel is of the view that in the fight against corruption, the MACC should not only be 'clean' but seen to be 'clean'," he added.

- Bernama