KUALA LUMPUR – Special Committee on Corruption (SCC) chairman Tan Sri Rais Yatim has suggested for Article 145 of the federal constitution be amended so the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will be answerable to Parliament.
He said Malaysia has been accused of being a corruption centre, even being mentioned as such in Tamil movies.
“With the constitutional amendment, MACC will be empowered to prosecute while the attorney-general can delegate the power of prosecution to the anti-graft body.
“Amending Section 14 or 15 of the MACC Act will allow it to come under the purview of Parliament, where the legislative body is not allowed to interfere with MACC’s prosecution powers,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.
“We cannot run away from this. We need to free Malaysia from this stigma of being a centre of corruption.”
Rais, who is also Dewan Negara president, said his colleagues at the SCC are in agreement with the suggestions to amend the laws.
He added that the provisions under Article 145 are outdated and needed a new lease of life suited for current times.
“The provisions have not been revised since our independence. It was brought in by the Reid Commission in 1957. We are still using colonial laws even though we are an independent country.
“The amendments will allow MACC to be monitored by Parliament, not the executive branch. The executive branch means the prime minister. Whether we like it, there will be some influence on MACC or its chief.”
He said this is why MACC must be empowered to prosecute and this must be in our laws.
This is not the first time Rais has brought up the same issue.
In January, it was reported that recommendations had been made for MACC to be answerable to Parliament.
Rais was quoted as saying that MACC had to be independent just like the judiciary.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appointed the SCC, who would serve for three years effective July 15 last year.
Aside from Rais, the SCC includes senators Md Nasir Hashim (Bersatu), Raj Munni Sabu (Amanah), Datuk Idris Ahmad (PAS), Zaiedi Suhaili (Bersatu), Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim (PKR), and Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai (DAP).
The aim of the SCC is to advise the prime minister on anti-corruption measures and to audit MACC annual reports, as well as study recommendations made by the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board. – The Vibes, August 22, 2022
