KUALA LUMPUR – The Ombudsman Act 2023 will be tabled in the October parliamentary sitting, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
In a statement today, Azalina said the government had agreed in principle to establish ombudsman services meant to resolve public complaints of “maladministration” or “grievances” within the public service.
“Ombudsman is an independent body which practices impartiality in resolving public grievances towards the civil service in rendering their services,” said Azalina, adding that such services have been established in 115 out of 195 countries.
The act, said Azalina, would empower the ombudsman to provide recommendations or preventive actions towards government agencies, monitor the management of public complaints by government agencies, and publish reports of complaints towards public services.
The government is also looking at several other policies, including providing investigative powers, presenting its reports to Parliament, the tenure for the ombudsman and other related matters to ensure the efficacy of the service, said Azalina.
Bernama also reports Azalina announcing that the appointment of the ombudsman will be for a six-year term and that the ombudsman office will be required to produce an annual report that will be tabled and debated in Parliament.
To date, the government has had engagement sessions with relevant stakeholders, including key ministries and agencies as well as The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, and Suara Rakyat Malaysia, among others.
Azalinsa said the government plans to have an engagement session with government and opposition lawmakers on the matter soon.
“The establishment of the Ombudsman Malaysia is crucial towards a more effective and efficient public service as part of a government that is more responsive and just towards the rakyat,’’ she said. – The Vibes, May 8, 2023
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