‘JITN a waste of public funds’

MACC: New dept will hinder our freedom

BALIK PULAU: The anti-graft body has reiterated its objection to a proposal to set up a new department, saying that its independence will be hindered.

In condemning the plan, Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad said if the Government has the budget, it should use the money to improve the existing institutions.

Dzulkifli stressed that the new department – the National Integrity and Good Governance Department (JITN) – would be a waste of public funds.

He said its role could be carried out by existing agencies such as the MACC, Integrity Institute of Malaysia, Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.

“Who is the minister? And now, JITN wants to control how we investigate? We are talking about the independence of the MACC,” he said at a press conference at Madrasah Raiyah Islamiah in Sungai Pinang yesterday.

Recently, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low was quoted as saying that the Cabinet had given the green light for the setting up of JITN to serve as a coordinating body to lead transformational changes in the public and private sectors.

Low said besides focusing on good governance, integrity and human rights, JITN would ensure thorough investigations into abuse of power and corruption, and ensure effective and successful prosecution.

On a separate matter, Dzulkifli said it was up to political parties to decide if they want to submit their list of candidates for vetting.

“Vetting of candidate lists is not required under the law and we are not forcing them to do so. If they want, they can hand in; if not, it doesn’t matter.

“We do not have problem with that but the people will judge their seriousness and commitment,” he said.

Dzulkifli said if a political party was committed to making sure its candidates were not involved in abuse of power or have any investigations against them, the MACC could provide the vetting mechanism.

He added that even if the candidates had passed the vetting, it did not mean they would not be involved in corruption or abuse of power if they were elected.

“If that happens, we will still take action against them,” he said.

On Wednesday, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Pakatan Harapan had no intention of submitting its list of election candidates to the MACC for vetting.

In questioning the motive behind the move, Dr Wan Azizah said Pakatan did its own internal vetting and that it could be a political ploy.