Parliamentary panels to appoint auditor general, MACC chief

PUTRAJAYA: The government is proposing to restrict the powers of the prime minister and the government in the appointment of the auditor general and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner.

Several parliamentary select committees would be formed and tasked with the appointments of these top posts, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said such measures would stop any form of interference from the government against those tasked with upholding integrity.

He said both positions were most important because they were closely related to matters pertaining to integrity and in ensuring government management followed procedures, an important element in ensuring that efforts to curb corruption could be carried out.

“We are able to know if a government’s administration is being done according to the rules through auditing exercises.

“Currently, the Auditor General’s Department comes under the Prime Minister’s Department. Auditing is key in keeping tabs on and boosting efficiency in the administration.

“The appointment of the auditor general is also decided by the prime minister, who advises the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“We will now transfer the power of the said appointments to the parliamentary select committees,” he said after chairing a Cabinet Committee Meeting on Anti-Corruptionn here yesterday.

Dr Mahathir said the move would result in the prime minister and the government not having the ability to meddle in either penalising, terminating or demoting anyone in these positions.

This reform, he said, would help tackle corruption in the country, adding that certain reforms proposed by the government would require constitutional amendments.

He said any amendments to the Constitution would require a two-thirds majority in Parliament, which would mean securing the support of the members of parliament from the opposition.

“If we can get the assurance of opposition leaders to support changes to the Constitution, only then can we table them,” he said, adding that the government had to draft several acts and amend existing ones.

“However, we need time to study things in terms of the law and the impact. For now, we will focus on acts that we deem important.”