Push for Ombudsman Act gains momentum after MACC apology [WATCH]
This comes after Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki's formal apology to the family of Teoh Beng Hock, a political aide who died in 2009 while in MACC custody.
The MACC's public apology, which the Teoh family has acknowledged but not fully accepted, has reopened calls for deeper reform and accountability.
Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah said the five existing oversight mechanisms under the MACC Act — namely the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board, Special Committee on Corruption, Complaints Committee, Operations Review Panel, and Consultative and Corruption Prevention Panel — function purely in advisory roles, without any enforcement or investigative authority.
He said implementing an independent oversight mechanism such as the Ombudsman to enhance public confidence and institutional integrity is key.
This, he added, would help address questions on appointments involve both the MACC Chief Commissioner and the Prime Minister.
"These advisory panels cannot investigate, compel information, or take action. That is why the Ombudsman framework is crucial," he said.
The government has previously signalled its intention to table the Ombudsman Bill.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said in 2023 that the Ombudsman Malaysia initiative, formerly known as the Public Complaints Bureau, would be strengthened to manage public complaints with improved independence and transparency.
Pushpan highlighted that the government should ensure that when the bill is tabled, the Ombudsman's jurisdiction includes oversight over institutions such as the MACC.
"We're not saying the Ombudsman should investigate corruption cases — that remains MACC's job.
"But they should be empowered to review procedures, handle complaints, and promote transparency in how investigations are carried out," he said.
"An apology is a start, but building trust takes more than words. It takes systems that work," Pushpan added.
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