PUTRAJAYA - The government will present the Ombudsman Malaysia 2023 Bill in Parliament in October.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Said said that the Ombudsman Bill, which functions to handle complaints of misconduct and abuse in public service, is now in its final stage.
"It will be brought for consideration and approval from the Cabinet," she told reporters, here, today.
Azalina said the government will hold a briefing session with all MPs in the upcoming Parliament session to gain input and views before finalising the bill as soon as possible.
She said the bill is important to ensure the public service delivery system were more efficient and effective and that the government is more responsive and fair to the people.
The proposed Ombudsman Malaysia will act as an independent entity that deals with various complaints of misconduct and maladministration in government departments or agencies.
"When we talk about a responsible government, one of its crucial element is to allow complaints to be made," she said.
Azalina said the bill was in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's wishes to establish an independent body to deal with the people's complaints against agencies and the government.
"Ombudsman Malaysia will adopt the impartial concept in managing the public's complaints about public service delivery system," she said.
Azalina said Ombudsman members will be appointed for six years and it will not be extended.
"The appointment is also separated from retirement," she said.
Previously, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had proposed the Ombudsman Malaysia in 2018 to replace the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB).
Ombudsman is a concept adopted and recognised worldwide with 115 out of 195 countries setting up an Ombudsman.
Additionally, Azalina said the bureau had received 20,000 first tier complaints, with 85 per cent complaints involving local authorities.
She said there are currently issues with the complaints process, such as delays and lack of response, when people make complaints directly to government departments or agencies.
"With Ombudsman Malaysia, people will know where to channel their complaints," she said.