Bersih urges Anwar to double down reformation efforts against corruption, toward integrity

SHAH ALAM - The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) urges Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to double down efforts to cement his credentials as a reformist and fulfill PH's election manifesto promises to fight corruption and strengthen the integrity of key institutions.

In a press release published on Dec 3, Bersih laid out three measures that Anwar and the new cabinet must immediately prioritise to remove any doubts of interference in court cases and conflict of interest:

First, the coalition urged for Anwar to make the Solicitor-General to assume the role of Public Prosecutor with immediate effect until the necessary constitutional amendments were made to remove that role from that of the Attorney-General.

Secondly, the new government were urged to promote political stability and parliamentary oversight by giving meaningful roles to the Opposition and Government backbenchers in shadow cabinet and parliamentary special select committees (PSSCs), with commensurate salary, policy research support and access to government information for shadow ministers as well as chairs and deputy chairs of the PSSCs, further enhanced by enactment of a new Parliamentary Services Act and establishment of Parliamentary Budget Office.

Thirdly, Bersih called for the reform of the process to appoint and remove key public officers such as Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief, Election Commission and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commisioners.

The process, Bersih said, should grant more independence from the executive and include meaningful roles for the Parliament, civil society and other stakeholders.

The demand was part of a reaction from the coalition towards the “questionable appointments” of both the PM himself as the Finance Minister (FM) and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the deputy prime minister as well as the rural development and federal territories minister.

“It is reflective of the composition of his "unity government" and yet keeping to his election promise to reduce the size of the Cabinet.

“However, we are dismayed that Anwar has appointed himself to helm the important Finance portfolio, which weakens the check and balance that is necessary to ensure that we do not return to the days of former minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration where the PM as the FM almost bankrupted our country through the 1MDB scheme.

“We are also disappointed that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who still has 47 ongoing corruption charges has been appointed as the Deputy PM and helming the Rural Development & Federal Territories Ministry,” noting that though they understand the politics behind his appointment, they regret that “principles took a backseat”.

They pointed out that both the questionable appointments threatened to undermine Anwar's commitment to fight corruption.

On the other hand, Bersih welcomed the appointment of Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said as the Law Minister hoping that “she would drive the reforms promised in both the PH and BN manifestos, continuing with many of the reforms started by some of her predecessors such as the late VK Liew and Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

“We are also pleased that Azalina is among five women appointed to lead key ministries such as Education, Health, Youth & Sports and Women & Family.

“While this Cabinet has the highest representation of women as Ministers, it is still far from a gender-balanced Cabinet,” they added.

With the formation of the new Cabinet, the task of governing and serving the Rakyat begins, Bersih reminded the new government.

“It is our hope, and the hope of the Rakyat, that there will be political stability and this administration would be given the opportunity to govern full term and all parties, including the Opposition would play constructive roles in nation-building.

“As a member of the civil society, Bersih will continue to be a nonpartisan voice and would continue to push for reforms that would strengthen our democracy,” they noted.