Rasuah Busters demands MACC structural reforms

SHAH ALAM: Rasuah Busters demands an immediate structural reform of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission following allegations against its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

The group said structural reform was vital to ensure the credibility and integrity of the government as well as the commission itself.

“We hereby demand the following steps to be taken in connection with the case, as well as for MACC structural reform to be conducted immediately.

“Failure to do so will undermine the credibility of the present government, its corresponding institutions, and the collective commitment towards governance and integrity,” the group said in a joint media statement.

The first demand was to conduct an independent investigation on claims against Azam by individuals not connected to the MACC to ensure the impartiality of the probe.

These allegations are the alleged shares purchased, as to whether it was declared under the Public Officers Regulations Act (Conduct and Discipline) 1993 and whether he had declared himself as the beneficial owner of the shares that were purchased by his brother to the Securities Commission at the material time of the purchase, as required by Section 25(4) of the Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991.

Secondly, the group highlighted a reform proposal initiated in 2015 by the Malaysian Bar, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), C4 center, Transparency International Malaysia, and Citizens’ Network for a Better Malaysia. The group is seeking it to be implemented.

The first proposed reform was to create an Independent Anti–Corruption Commission (IACC), a constitutionally mandated commission, beyond the scope, control, and influence of the Executive; which will report to Parliament and provide oversight over the investigative agency to be renamed as the Anti-Corruption Agency.

Secondly, it was to ensure the independence of commissioners serving the commission, security of tenure for the chairman and commissioners.

The group also demanded amendments to the MACC Act 2009, Official Secrets Act 1972, Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, Witness Protection Act 2009, and adopt a Freedom of Information and Asset Declaration Act.

Rasuah Busters, together with six non-governmental organisations namely Bersih 2.0, the Malaysian Coalition for Action (GBM), Centre to Combat Corruption (C4), Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M), Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), and Undi 18, believes these reform proposals will strengthen the independence of MACC.

“We hereby emphasise that it is extremely urgent that these reforms are implemented, as, without an independent and robust framework to act on corruption, any anti-corruption agency is doomed to fail.

"We are not merely giving demands or calls for action but we bringing forward viable solutions,” Norhayati Nordin, Rasuah Busters chief secretariat said.

She added that they will continue pursuing these demands until it they are fully implemented.