Reforms for AG’s Chambers, EC, MACC and police

New advisory committee on reforms will also look into appointment of judges, Anti-Fake News law and Parliamentary procedures.

Retired judge KC Vohrah says the prime minister’s advisory reform committee has 60 days to produce recommendations. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s new advisory committee on reforms is to look into changes at the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Election Commission and in the police force, all of which have been the subject of political controversy.

Among the matters to be scrutinised is the reluctance of the previous government and the police force towards setting up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission for oversight of the police force, recommended by a royal inquiry in 2005.

Committee members said today some proposed reforms may involve amendments to the Federal Constitution or existing laws, while others may involve changes in the procedure of institutions such as Parliament.

The controversial Anti-Fake News Act which has been the subject of complaints, would also be re-examined.

The Judicial Appointments Commission, which appoints judges, will also come under scrutiny from the five-member committee, chaired by retired judge KC Vohrah.

He said the Institutional Reforms Committee had been given 60 days to submit recommendations to the prime minister’s advisory Council of Elders, which would forward its proposals to the government.

The reform committee held its first meeting at Ilham Centre today. Besides Vohrah, the panel comprises retired Court of Appeal judge and Suhakam (human rights) commissioner Mah Weng Kwai, National Patriots Association president Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji, National Human Rights Society president Ambiga Sreenevasan and Universiti Malaya law professor Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi.

Ambiga said some proposed reforms may require amending the constitution.

The federal government, through Pakatan Harapan and its ally Warisan Sabah, currently commands 124 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, 20 seats short of the two-third majority required to adopt constitutional amendments.

Vohrah said key institutions in Malaysia had suffered a crisis in public confidence and erosion of independence, and some laws had infringed on the fundamental liberties provided for in the constitution. “Our emphasis is on rule of law and accountability.”

Ambiga said there was a lot of work and cleaning up to be done at the Election Commission. “Legislation is one thing; another is to clean up the electoral roll. We can make recommendations about that. There’s a lot to look at.”

Ambiga said some reforms may involve amending the constitution but quite a number of matters require only structural changes.

“We are going to study all aspects and find out,” she said.

Shad Saleem said the proposed reforms would also involve parliamentary procedures and committees, and the standing orders of each house of Parliament.

He said the committee will also look at the Anti-Fake News Act, Sedition Act and some aspects of the Official Secrets Act which have prevented the truth from emerging. -FMT