ID :
35096
Thu, 12/11/2008 - 15:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/35096
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M'SIAN PM ABDULLAH TABLES MALAYSIA ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION BILL
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Wednesday tabled the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Bill 2008 for first reading in the Lower House of Parliament.
The new act will replace the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and expected to take
effect from Jan 1.
The MACC, which is to promote integrity in the public and private sector
administrations, provides for the setting up of an independent anti-corruption
commission to replace the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
It is also to educate civil servants and members of the public on
corruption
and its negative impact on public and private sector administrations as well as
on the society as a whole.
According to the bill, the MACC would be headed by a chief commissioner to
be appointed among the civil service.
An anti-corruption advisory board would also be set up to advise the
chief commissioner on all aspects of corruption in Malaysia and the strategies
to overcome them.
The bill also outlines the duties and responsibilities of a MACC officer,
which include, among other things, to accept and investigate complaints, to
advise and assist the public on ways to stamp out corruption and to educate them
on ways to prevent corruption.
The bill also provides for the setting up of a special committee which
will advise the prime minister on the issue of corruption in Malaysia as well as
scrutinise and seek clarification on reports issued by the MACC.
A complaints committee will also be set up to monitor the commission's
activities as well as any incidence of misconduct among MACC officers.
Section 58 of the Act reaffirmes the power to prosecute upon the public
prosecutors, who will commence prosecution proceedings in the Sessions Court.
Abdullah also tabled for first reading the Judicial Appointments
Commission
Bill 2008 to set up an independent judicial body to manage the appointment of
judges of the Federal Court, Appellate Court and High Court, as well as the
appointment of the Chief Justice.
The bill will take effect at a date to be determined later.
The commission will be chaired by the Chief Justice and will comprise the
President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Malaya, Chief Judge of Sabah
and Sarawak and four others to be appointed by the prime minister.
The bill, among other things, spells out the function of the commission,
which is to appoint individuals as superior court judges based on their
experience, integrity and firmness as well as the ability to deliver judgment on
time.
They must also be fair, of good morality and diligent in managing
cases, the bill says.
Meanwhile, during the tabling of the two bills, Karpal Singh, an
opposition MP interjected and requested that the house attend to the motion to
discuss the conduct of Chief Justice Zaki Tun Azmi.
"I am requesting that we discuss this before the prime minister table the
Judical Appointments Commission Bill," he said.
Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, however, rejected the request.
-- BERNAMA
The new act will replace the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and expected to take
effect from Jan 1.
The MACC, which is to promote integrity in the public and private sector
administrations, provides for the setting up of an independent anti-corruption
commission to replace the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
It is also to educate civil servants and members of the public on
corruption
and its negative impact on public and private sector administrations as well as
on the society as a whole.
According to the bill, the MACC would be headed by a chief commissioner to
be appointed among the civil service.
An anti-corruption advisory board would also be set up to advise the
chief commissioner on all aspects of corruption in Malaysia and the strategies
to overcome them.
The bill also outlines the duties and responsibilities of a MACC officer,
which include, among other things, to accept and investigate complaints, to
advise and assist the public on ways to stamp out corruption and to educate them
on ways to prevent corruption.
The bill also provides for the setting up of a special committee which
will advise the prime minister on the issue of corruption in Malaysia as well as
scrutinise and seek clarification on reports issued by the MACC.
A complaints committee will also be set up to monitor the commission's
activities as well as any incidence of misconduct among MACC officers.
Section 58 of the Act reaffirmes the power to prosecute upon the public
prosecutors, who will commence prosecution proceedings in the Sessions Court.
Abdullah also tabled for first reading the Judicial Appointments
Commission
Bill 2008 to set up an independent judicial body to manage the appointment of
judges of the Federal Court, Appellate Court and High Court, as well as the
appointment of the Chief Justice.
The bill will take effect at a date to be determined later.
The commission will be chaired by the Chief Justice and will comprise the
President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Malaya, Chief Judge of Sabah
and Sarawak and four others to be appointed by the prime minister.
The bill, among other things, spells out the function of the commission,
which is to appoint individuals as superior court judges based on their
experience, integrity and firmness as well as the ability to deliver judgment on
time.
They must also be fair, of good morality and diligent in managing
cases, the bill says.
Meanwhile, during the tabling of the two bills, Karpal Singh, an
opposition MP interjected and requested that the house attend to the motion to
discuss the conduct of Chief Justice Zaki Tun Azmi.
"I am requesting that we discuss this before the prime minister table the
Judical Appointments Commission Bill," he said.
Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, however, rejected the request.
-- BERNAMA
