A FREE and independent Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission are at the core of eight proposals by Pakatan Harapan youth leaders to make Malaysia one of the top 10 “cleanest” countries in the next 10 years.

Bersatu’s youth wing (Armada) chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said the first and second proposals were for the MACC to have more autonomy and for the commission to investigate public officials living beyond their means.

Syed Saddiq gave the example of a politician giving out gifts to the people at an event, questioning whether this was a form of corruption.

“For example, during an election (campaign), if a politician goes out and gives ‘duit raya’ he will be caught, but if his supporters do it for him, the law is more lenient. And they give rice bags, electrical appliances like fridges and toasters.

“It is not a direct form of corruption, but there is some form of moral indebtedness to the person, especially when the source of the money comes from the government.

“It (the laws on corruption) should be more strict, and in order for it to be more strict, we should give full power to MACC to define what ‘gift’ actually means,” he said at the presentation of the “10 Tahun, 10 Negara Terbersih” with Pakatan Harapan youth leaders today.

The third proposal, Syed Saddiq said, was for the attorney-general’s prosecution powers to be separate from MACC to avoid a conflict of interest. He said MACC should have the power of prosecution so that the commission could act independently.

The fourth proposal calls for the setting up of a special commission to monitor MACC and choose its chief commissioner.

This special commission should report directly to the Dewan Rakyat.

“It is this commission that will choose the MACC chief commissioner and determine all policies and strategies for anti-corruption in Malaysia,” Syed Saddiq said.  

The fifth proposal gives an MACC that is under the special commission to fully conduct, handle and start investigations.

The sixth proposal calls for a review of documents under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to ensure that there is transparency within the government.

The seventh proposal seeks a revamp of the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, to stress on the importance of the need for whistleblowers in Malaysia.

The eighth, and last, proposal calls for a free press to  “ensure the media has the right to report the truth and criticise for the better good of the country”.

Syed Saddiq said a media agency could be compromised when the “editorial board is affected by politics” and may cause certain issues to be censored.

PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin, who was at the presentation, questioned “when is Prime Minister Najib Razak going to sign the anti-corruption pledge by MACC?”

Also there at the presentation were National DAP Socialist Youth chief Wong Kah Woh, PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Amanah Youth chief Mohd Sany Hamzan. – August 7, 2017.

-ends-