Public Appointments Select Committee yet to be appointed

The Dewan Rakyat's Selection Committee has yet to meet to discuss the candidates that will helm and sit on the Select Committees for Major Public Appointments, according to Tan Kok Wai.

"The Selection Committee has not decided the date for its next meeting," the Selection Committee member told Malaysiakini when contacted.

The Selection Committee is expected to decide on the candidates who will sit on these committees.

Based on the Selection Committee's report tabled at the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 16, the parliament's House Committee agreed to set up six select committees.

These committees will discuss the consideration of bills, budget, home and defence, rights and gender equality, federal-state relations, and major public appointments.

The Select Committee on Major Public Appointments will be in charge of appointing the top official in the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Election Commission, MACC and the Judicial Appointment Commission.

This is to reduce possible executive interference in major appointments, and to ensure that these are based solely on merit.

In many democracies that use the Westminster system, these committees are staffed with researchers and are also funded.

All committees will have seven members and their tenure will last either two years or two terms.

According to Item 16 of Pakatan Harapan's election manifesto, the coalition will institutionalise the selection committee system "to monitor every ministry, with the power to call ministers and senior officials to testify." - Mkini