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MALAYSIAN Institute of Integrity (MII) Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has expressed strong support for the government’s proposal to establish Ombudsman Malaysia, calling it an important step towards reinforcing transparency, accountability and integrity within the country’s public administration.
He said a genuinely independent Ombudsman is essential to ensure that public complaints involving administrative weaknesses, unfair treatment and service failures can be investigated transparently and rectified effectively.
According to him, such an institution would serve as a central channel for the public to lodge complaints on maladministration, service delays, unjust administrative decisions and systemic failures within the public sector.
Beyond responding to complaints, Lee noted that an Ombudsman should also play a proactive role by recommending improvements to policies and procedures so that recurring weaknesses can be addressed and prevented.
He stressed that the independence of the Ombudsman is paramount, arguing that the institution must operate under parliamentary oversight rather than executive control. This, he said, is crucial to ensure that investigations into government agencies can be carried out without political interference.
The proposal, however, has also raised questions about the continued relevance of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC). Lee said the EAIC currently has a specific mandate to investigate misconduct involving enforcement officers and agencies, but its jurisdiction is limited and its authority to impose disciplinary action or pursue prosecution is not comprehensive.
In contrast, he explained, an Ombudsman would have a broader scope, covering the entire public service and addressing issues such as poor service delivery, unfair administration, inefficiency and systemic failure, rather than focusing solely on misconduct by enforcement personnel.
Lee said there are different models the government could consider. One option would be to integrate or align the functions of the EAIC under the Ombudsman, ensuring that public complaints are not fragmented or duplicated across multiple institutions. Another approach would be to clearly delineate responsibilities, with the EAIC continuing to focus on specific enforcement-related misconduct, while the Ombudsman addresses wider administrative failures across the public sector.
Whichever model is adopted, Lee emphasised that it is critical to avoid overlapping jurisdictions or ambiguity in authority, and to ensure that every public complaint is handled efficiently and effectively.
He described the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia as a major opportunity to restore and enhance public confidence in the government’s administrative system. However, he cautioned that the success of the institution would depend on three key factors: full independence from the executive, a clear and comprehensive mandate, and sufficient resources to conduct thorough and effective investigations.
With proper implementation, Lee said Ombudsman Malaysia could become a catalyst for a more transparent, responsive and integrity-driven governance culture, in line with public aspirations for a government that is genuinely accountable.