Govt backbenchers urge parliamentary oversight for MACC chief appointment

 

PARLIAMENT | The government backbenchers club today called for Parliament to be given oversight power over the appointment of future MACC chiefs and Election Commission members.

In tabling the club's motion at the Dewan Rakyat, its representative Hasni Mohammad (BN-Simpang Renggam) also urged the appointment of future public prosecutors to be based on merit and totally independent of the executive branch.

"This is so that such an important position truly functions as a bulwark of justice, not an instrument of power.

"In addition, institutional reforms need to be continued, including reforms to the MACC Act to enable parliamentary oversight in the process of appointing the MACC chief commissioner, as well as the tabling of the MACC’s annual report for debate in Parliament," he said.

Hasni was tabling the club’s motion of thanks on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's royal address, where the monarch spoke at length about corruption and good governance.

Reforming EC

The club also called for amendments to be made to Articles 113 and 114 of the Federal Constitution, to make way for a reform of the Election Commission.

According to Hasni, this is to enable Parliament to have an oversight into the appointment of its seven commissioners and for the commission to table its annual report to the August house.

On top of this, the club urged the government to refer its reform bills to the respective parliamentary special select committees (PSSC) or at least table them early.

This followed the government's commitment to table several reform proposals this year, including the Ombudsman Bill, Freedom of Information Bill, and a bill to impose a two-term limit for the prime minister.

"This is to enable MPs and the rakyat to scrutinise, debate and propose meaningful improvement (to the bills) when they go to the committee stage," Hasni said.

The club also expressed its hope for the government to recognise contributions of good ideas based on merit, including those that come from the opposition.

Hasni stressed that such practice is the hallmark of a mature democracy where the interests of the nation are placed above narrow political interests. - Mkini