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KUALA LUMPUR – The proposal to vet candidates for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) chief commissioner post through a special committee is currently being refined, said Deputy Law Minister Ramkarpal Singh.
During his winding-up speech in the Dewan Rakyat today, Ramkarpal said that the government agency is currently reevaluating the appointment process.
He added that MACC has also conducted several engagement sessions with its stakeholders to identify a benchmark for the appointment process.
Ramkarpal said the stakeholders include the Public Service Department, the National Accountancy Department, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
The Bukit Gelugor MP said the chief commissioner’s appointment is expected to involve amendments to several laws, such as the federal constitution and the MACC Act 2009.
Ramkarpal was responding to PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s (Pasir Mas-PN) remarks earlier today urging the government to place MACC under the purview of Parliament, adding it was critical to ensure prosecutions by the agency were not motivated by politics.
His fellow coalition member Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN) cited similar sentiments, noting that PH leaders had previously called for MACC to be more independent when they were in the opposition.
Incumbent MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki was appointed to the top post by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on March 9, 2020 during the start of the latter’s tenure.
He replaced Latheefa Koya, who was appointed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his second stint under the PH government.
In its manifesto, PH pledged to have key appointments, such as the MACC chief commissioner and inspector-general of police, put through a bipartisan Public Services Commission. – The Vibes, March 13, 2023
