Latest news with #AllianceforaSafeCommunity
The Star
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Proposed amendments to expunge minor offences from criminal records timely, says Lee Lam Thye
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's proposed amendments to the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969, are a timely and progressive step towards a more rehabilitative justice system. Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the current approach of saddling individuals, particularly youths, with lifelong criminal records for minor and non-violent offences has long-term consequences that extend far beyond their initial sentence. "For far too long, individuals, especially young people convicted of minor and non-violent offences, have been burdened with lifelong criminal records that severely restrict their ability to reintegrate into society,' he said when contacted on Wednesday (July 30). The stigma, discrimination, and rejection that many former offenders face, especially when seeking employment, undermine both their rehabilitation and the country's efforts to reduce recidivism, Lee said. "Rehabilitation must mean more than just serving time; it must include the opportunity to start anew,' he added. He called on the government to include provisions for the expungement of criminal records for minor and non-violent offences in the proposed legislative amendments. He recommended a system where such records could be expunged after a period of three to five years of good behaviour following release. 'Such a move would be fair, compassionate, and aligned with the values of restorative justice,' Lee said. Beyond legislative reforms, Lee called on employers, particularly in the private sector, to play a more proactive role in reintegration efforts, stressing that employment is a critical factor in preventing repeat offences. 'If we truly believe in rehabilitation, we must remove the structural barriers that block it,' he said, while noting the importance of distinguishing between hardened criminals and those who simply made youthful or circumstantial mistakes. He also proposed several key reforms to accompany the amendments, including the introduction of clear, transparent guidelines for expungement, support services such as job placement and counselling, awareness campaigns to combat stigma, and public-private partnerships to create workplace reintegration programmes. 'In building a safer, fairer society, we must be tough on crime, but also compassionate towards those who seek redemption. 'We must not allow the past to define a person's future forever, especially when that person has paid their dues and is willing to change," he said.
The Sun
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Lessons not learnt despite repeated audit warnings
PETALING JAYA: Despite the Auditor-General's annual reports repeatedly flagging irregularities and weaknesses in government departments, lessons are rarely learnt and accountability remains weak, said former auditor-general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang (pic). 'I've always believed the report offers valuable insights. But who's actually willing to read and act on them?' he asked. The onus, he said, is on controlling officers such as the secretaries-general and department heads, to take audit findings seriously and initiate reform. 'The auditor-general can highlight the problems, but it's up to ministries and agencies to follow through. Without ownership, the same issues will keep resurfacing.' His comments come in the wake of the latest report, which has once again brought to light a familiar list of financial mismanagement, weak internal controls and procedural breaches. The Auditor-General's Report (Series 2) released on Monday, flagged serious irregularities and weaknesses in projects and programmes involving seven ministries. Five audits involving seven ministries, with an overall cost of RM48.873 billion, were reported. Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the government must treat the findings with urgency or risk normalising weak accountability. He said repeated red flags reflect not just administrative lapses but also a deeper culture of negligence. 'Delays in project completion, overpayments, failure to follow procedure and procurement without documentation – these aren't minor slip-ups. They signal systemic failures and a lack of integrity among those entrusted with public funds.' Lee said the latest report once again exposed a familiar cycle of financial mismanagement, procurement irregularities and regulatory breaches, often with little consequence. 'We urge the government to act swiftly. If no disciplinary or legal action is taken against those responsible, the cycle will continue. Without consequences, there's no deterrence.' He called for the beefing up of internal audit units, making them independent and capable of real-time monitoring, not just post-event reviews. 'There also needs to be greater transparency in procurement. An online dashboard should be created so the public can track how government funds are being spent.' Lee pushed for periodic integrity audits, particularly for high-risk departments, to detect early signs of misconduct and not just financial irregularities. He also called for parliamentary oversight to be tightened. 'The Public Accounts Committee must have the authority to summon not just department heads, but ministers too. Accountability should not stop at middle management. The public deserves better. Malaysians are paying taxes, yet the people entrusted with those funds behave with carelessness or, worse, dishonesty.' Meanwhile, political analyst Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said the AG report is a vital tool for transparency but not every issue flagged should be treated as a scandal. The Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research fellow noted that many findings in the report stem from operational shortcomings rather than outright mismanagement. 'Some reflect inefficiencies that can be addressed internally without external scrutiny,' he said. Azmi cautioned that while the report helps expose serious breaches, it can also paint an overly grim picture by highlighting issues that are routine administrative challenges. 'For example, when it comes to university research grants, it's hard to directly link funding to immediate commercial returns. It's not something you can measure in simple terms.' He added that ministries and agencies should proactively fix such issues before they appear in audit reports. 'Agencies should not wait for problems to be exposed. They should correct them as part of good governance. When there's clear misuse of funds, that's when enforcement bodies like the MACC must step in.' Azmi also stressed the importance of distinguishing between poor management and operational lag. 'The AG Report should not be seen in black and white – it is more nuanced than that.'
The Star
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Don't turn a deaf ear to credible views from the public
I REFER to the letter 'Help riders earn a living without risking their lives' by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, chairman of Alliance for a Safe Community (The Star, July 19). While I highly commend Lee's ideas and the depth of his analysis, I often find myself wondering whether our authorities genuinely pay attention to such valuable public insights. This apparent disregard for public opinion, I believe, is a missed opportunity to build stronger relationships between the public and the authorities. It's a fundamental principle of public relations that engagement and responsiveness foster trust. Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Full access to Web and App. RM 13.90/month RM 9.73 /month Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter. RM 12.39/month RM 8.63 /month Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.
Barnama
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Proposed Climate Change Bill is a Bold Step Forward with Nature-Based Solutions
KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) — Alliance for a Safe Community, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO), has welcomed the government's move to introduce a long-awaited Climate Change Bill, which will compel industries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with Malaysia's commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement. 'The Alliance urges the government to ensure the Climate Change Bill is inclusive, enforceable, and forward-looking — one that puts nature, people, and planet at the heart of its design. Its Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said in a statement recently that the legislation must serve not only as a tool for emission control but also as a blueprint for long-term environmental sustainability and resilience, especially as Malaysia began to feel the real impacts of climate change — extreme weather, biodiversity loss, and threats to food and water security. 'Let this Bill mark a turning point in our nation's journey toward environmental justice, economic resilience, and climate leadership,' said Lee. Last Friday, in Kuala Langat, Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the proposed National Climate Change Bill will include incentives for companies that successfully reduce their carbon emissions. He said, among other things, the bill may also include provisions for the implementation of carbon credits, which would further support the national agenda to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The bill is still in the drafting stage and has yet to be presented to the Cabinet. Lee also proposed, the Bill should explicitly incorporate the following elements: Protection and Expansion of Carbon Sinks, Legal protection for remaining tropical rainforests, peat swamps, and coastal ecosystems, Large-scale reforestation and afforestation programmes in degraded areas. He suggested the bill should also include Incentives for community-based forest management and indigenous stewardship, Restoration of Critical Ecosystems, Funding and legal framework for mangrove restoration, river rehabilitation, and coral reef conservation and collaboration with NGOs, local councils, and universities in monitoring and maintaining ecological health. — BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
The Star
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Strong support for proposed Climate Change Bill
KUALA LUMPUR: The Alliance for a Safe Community has voiced strong support for the government's proposed Climate Change Bill, calling it a 'bold step forward' in Malaysia's ongoing efforts to combat global warming. Its chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye ( pic ), said the long-awaited legislation must go beyond emission reduction and act as a national blueprint for long-term environmental sustainability and resilience. 'This landmark Bill is timely, as Malaysia begins to feel the very real impacts of climate change, from extreme weather and biodiversity loss to food and water insecurity,' he said when contacted on Sunday (July 20). While commending the government's move to compel industries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with Malaysia's commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, Lee stressed the need to embed nature-based solutions at the core of climate action. 'Forests, peatlands, mangroves, and wetlands are our country's natural assets. "They play a critical role not just in carbon sequestration, but also in protecting communities from floods and preserving biodiversity,' he lamented. He outlined several key elements that the bill should have, including legal protection for remaining tropical rainforests, peat swamps and coastal ecosystems. "Large-scale reforestation and afforestation efforts. "Incentives for indigenous stewardship and community-based forest management," he said. Lee said legal and financial backing should be given for mangrove restoration, river rehabilitation, and coral reef protection. "Cross-sector collaboration involving NGOs, local authorities, and academia should be ramped up for ongoing ecological monitoring," he said. He also called for the introduction of national guidelines to curb deforestation linked to development and agriculture. "At the same time, promotion of regenerative and climate-smart farming techniques should be conducted," he said. Lee said mandatory emissions reporting, clearly defined sectoral targets, and strict compliance mechanisms should be introduced, especially for high-emission industries such as energy, transport and manufacturing. "We also propose the creation of a Green Transition Fund to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in adopting greener technologies and practices. "Malaysia is uniquely placed, with rich biodiversity and natural ecosystems that can be part of the solution. 'A climate law that marries technology with nature is not only more effective, it is more equitable," he said.
