Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) welcomes and lauds the mature cooperation between the Ruling and Opposition blocs in Parliament through the signing of their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 13 September 2021 to aid in the recovery of the economy and the parliamentary reforms in Malaysia.
This strategic cooperation is the first of its kind in Malaysian history and is a move in the right direction, after months of emergency, protests and suspended democracy. We hope that the intentions and good faith of the lawmakers from across both the divides will be proven in the coming months through both clearly defined legislation as well as political will to follow through.
“We are also concerned and disappointed that 3 key areas of reforms some of which have been highlighted in the National Anti -Corruption Plan (NACP) and multiple statements from various MPs and Civil Society, in the past months is not in the MOU”, said Muhammad Mohan, President of Transparency International Malaysia. These three key areas are the following:
1. Political Financing Bill: The said Bill has been prepared but why there appears to be a lack in initiative and political will from both sides to table it?
2. Separation of powers between Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor: to decentralize the powers and reduce conflict of interest.
3. Establishment of the MACC as a commission by constitution: the constitutional MACC will report transparently to parliament and Chief Commissioner will be appointed by parliament. Currently the MACC is governed by a Parliamentary Act and the Chief Commissioner is selected and recommended by the PM and appointed by the King.
There exists a risk of executive interference by political parties. This is also not in the MOU as a reform initiative.
TI-Malaysia is cautious about promises of reforms that do not have clear intended outcomes and lack key important reforms that have been delayed multiple times by both governments and several Prime Ministers since the last election.
The Rakyat deserve an independent and efficient MACC and Public Prosecutor to prevent corruption, and a professional parliament with integrity.
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Note to Editors: For clarification on any and all official statements from Transparency International – Malaysia (TI-M), kindly refer to its President, Dr Muhammad Mohan (mmohan@transparency.org.my)
