KUALA LUMPUR, April 20, 2008 (Bernama)
Various quarters Sunday welcomed the proposal for the Anti-Corruption Agency to become an independent body, to show the government's credibility in trying to eradicate corruption and abuse of power.
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam, for instance, said Malaysians had been waiting for this as they wanted change in the ACA.
"The public will be more daring to lodge complaints on corrupt practices as there will be no interference from other parties. This will also benefit those who are victims of power abuse," he told Bernama here Sunday.
Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had received the proposal paper from the ACA for the agency to be an independent body.
Abdullah said the proposal would be carefully studied before a decision could be made.
Malaysian Bar Council vice-president Ragunath Kesavan also expressed his support for the proposal.
"This is a good move in efforts to restore the image of the country's judiciary and legal system, besides bringing about transparency of the parties involved," he said.
DAP national adviser Lim Kit Siang said there was no need for the government to carry out a study on making the ACA an independent body as it involved instituting a policy.
"A policy decision should be made that the ACA becomes an independent body and is responsible only to Parliament. It should not be under any ministry so that it can operate freely in order to be authoritative and effective.
Lim hopes the decision can be reached at next Wednesday's Cabinet meeting to demonstrate the government's sincerity and honesty in undertaking reforms.
"I agree that the ACA should operate like the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of Hong Kong and the independent anti-corruption agencies of other countries. Just make the policy and commitment," he said.
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I don't think the BN guys are so idiotic to allow an Independent Commission of Anti-corruption to be established 'cos this with open up many cans of worms belonging to those evilly corrupted BN politicians. Also the head of this Anti-corruption commission must be publicly elected and not appointed by the Government. He must have a clean record & must be able to act accordingly and justifiably without fear or favour. But most importantly, his dept. actions must be transparent. Definitely, an independent ACA body will help to enrich the country's reserves as those corrupted politicians, MPs & power-that be officials are detained for cheating the TAXPAYERS' money.
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