IT is said that the appointments of five members to the Special Committee on Corruption are in line with government’s efforts to fight corruption.

The newly appointed committee consists of members from the lower and upper Houses. All five members were appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The committee members are Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Mohd Shahar Abdullah, Mohd Shafizan Kepil, Lo Su Fui, and Young Syefura Othman.

The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act was established in 2009. The law permits executive interference in the appointment of its commissioners.

The main structure of the act gives autonomy and power to the executive branch. The influence of the executive is seen in the appointment of the commissioners. Although it is the king who appoints the commissioners, the appointment is based on the advice of the prime minister (Section 5).

The second issue is the advisory board, which the MACC oversees.

Under section 14 of the act, the special committee has a duty to advise the prime minister on corruption matters, examine the annual report of the commission, examine the comments of the advisory board, and seek clarification and explanation on its reports.

The special committee now consists of legislative branch members but even so, interference of the executive is still evident. This is because the committee is dominated by members of the governing coalition.

This lack of structural reform prevents the MACC from upholding its duty independently without charges of selective prosecution.

For this reason alone, the MACC must be reformed. – November 29, 2023.

* Matilda George reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.