Govt takes #RasuahBusters demands seriously, take some time to fulfil changes
SHAH ALAM - The government takes the demands made by #RasuahBusters and its coalition seriously, and the demands have begun at various levels.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar confirmed this but said it would take some time to implement.
“All of the demands could not be implemented in the blink of an eye.
“For example, currently there are more than 20 bills that need to be approved in the near future including the Anti-Party Hopping Act in Parliament.
“However, the government promises that all demands will be taken seriously,” he told Sinar Harian on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the #RasuahBusters team with their coalitions demanded the government and 220 MPs to immediately amend the law related to the six political demands for #MalaysiaTanpaRasuah which were presented in September last year.
The six demands were the implementation and full support of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP); to accelerate the tabling and implementation of Political Funding law; to ensure institutional freedom and independence of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC); to introduce a recall law to deal with party-hopping among elected representatives, implement and empower Undi18; and conduct Parliamentary reform.
Other than that, #RasuahBusters demanded the implementation and the empowerment of Undi18 and the implementation of the Parliament reformation.
Wan Junaidi said the Anti-Party Hopping Act was now already in Parliament and there should not have been an issue to be approved.
“On July 27 and 28, it will be presented. I have interacted with many Parliament members, and I believe there may be no issue to be approved,” he explained.
The implementation and empowerment of Undi18, Wan Junaidi said, have been in the final stages, including the prepared laws.
“What is left now is to give explanation towards the youth and those aged 17 and 18 years old.
“The Election Commission through its academy has implemented its engagement with multiple parties,” he said.
He stated the Administration Bill had been prepared to implement the Parliament reformation.
“However, the process may take some time because there are years’ worth of things that needed to be changed at their roots.
“There are a few minor issues that we need to overcome, and the government is concerned about the issue,” he said.
However, he explained the Political Fund Financing Act might not be presented in the current Parliament session or the upcoming December session as its framework was not completed.
“This issue has been discussed for a while in Parliament, during the previous administration while Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and we are still discussing it now.
“But the issue we are looking at and studying the laws of other countries for us to take into account the strengths and weaknesses and which model should be adopted,” he said.
On that note, for the demands in ensuring the freedom of MACC and the Attorney General’s Department, Wan Junaidi said his ministry and the Prime Minister were carefully observing the many possibilities, including placing both agencies under Parliament.
“For me, there is nothing really concerning within these agencies and many issues arise due to the perception as we (outsiders) do not know its function and responsibility.
“However, apart from placing the commission under the Parliament, the Attorney General’s Chamber could also be segregated into attorney-general and district attorneys.
“We will not be able to implement this immediately because this had been practised for 70 years,” he added.
