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The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Digital reform roadmap a good move but gaps remain
PETALING JAYA: Other ministries must emulate the Legal Affairs Division's (BHEUU) initiative to publish a digital roadmap on the government's reforms and new laws, say experts and civil society groups. 'Consistently publishing detailed updates will allow the public to have a better understanding of the status of ongoing reform initiatives,' says the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4). The digital roadmap, Petari, which was published on May 23, would address the disconnect people feel with the lawmaking process, said C4's chief executive officer, Pushpan Murugiah. 'Over the past few years, BHEUU has shown its dedication to inclusive and participatory policymaking – which is a practice that should be followed by other ministries,' said Pushpan. 'For instance, the public would benefit from having similar transparency on the status of development of amendments to the Official Secrets Act, and Printing Presses and Publications Act, which are under the Home Ministry,' he said. While other organisations have commended BHEUU's initiative, they also argued that the roadmap is missing key reforms that had been promised by Pakatan Harapan in its election manifesto. Projek Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama) says the 'missing' initiatives include reforms to the appointment process for top figures in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Election Commission and the Inspector-General of Police. 'Reforms that are left out, such as those mentioned, should be considered for further studies and implementation before the term for the Madani government ends in 2027,' Projek Sama said. Petari, a Malay acronym for Peta Reformasi Institusi (Institutional Reform Roadmap) was launched by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. The digital roadmap lists 14 new Bills and amendments to existing laws that BHEUU is working on, as well as six legal studies and six strategic initiatives. The new laws include one to establish the Ombudsmans office, to regulate funding and financing for political parties and to make Parliament more independent, all of which have been targeted for tabling this year. Petari also includes amendments to the Election Offences Act, The Whistleblowers Act, the Legal Professions Act, as well as ongoing studies such as the separation of the Attorney-General and the Public Prosecutors offices and the possibility of a Human Rights Tribunal for Malaysia. Projek Sama added that to improve Petari, the government should publish clear deadlines for when the new laws and amendments will be brought to Parliament and explain any delays. Petari should also include white papers on reforms to enable better public consultations so that the best solutions can be reached, Projek Sama said. Aliran, a human rights organisation, also welcomed Petari as a positive first step towards transparent governance that allows civil society to monitor the progress of reforms. 'We welcome the inclusion in the roadmap of key legislation governing freedom of information, an ombudsman's office and the creation of a parliamentary services commission. But critical gaps persist,' Aliran said. These gaps include initiatives to remove political appointments to government-linked companies, and limits to the prime minister's power to influence the appointment of judges, Aliran said. 'All these Bills will probably be only as effective as the people appointed to lead the offices and entities established under the respective legislation. 'It is time to establish a bipartisan select committee on vetting crucial appointments. Without addressing the appointments processes, even well-designed legislation risks becoming hollow rather than providing meaningful reform,' added Aliran.
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Reform platform a good move but lacks key PH manifesto pledges, says civil society group
PETALING JAYA: The government's new digital platform on institutional reform, PetaRI, has been described as a step in the right direction. However, civil society group Projek Sama said it still fell short of the deep structural changes promised by Pakatan Harapan in its election manifesto. Projek Sama commended the initiative, launched by the Legal Affairs Division under Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, saying it reflected a welcome commitment to transparency. 'We congratulate the Madani government and welcome the greater transparency that this brings to conversations around institutional reform,' the group said in a statement on Wednesday (May 28). PetaRI outlines 14 proposed Bills, six legal studies, and six strategic initiatives aimed at reforming Malaysia's legal and institutional framework. These include the long-awaited Ombudsman Bill, Political Financing Bill (though lacking any mention of public party funding), the revived Parliamentary Services Act, and a Freedom of Information Bill. Legal studies on key reforms such as a 10-year term limit for the prime minister, the separation of powers between the attorney general (AG) and public prosecutor (PP), and the viability of a Human Rights Tribunal were also lauded. Projek Sama, however, raised concerns over what was not included in the platform. Among the omissions were reforms to the appointments process for key institutions like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Election Commission and the inspector-general of police, which were promised in the Pakatan manifesto. Also absent were plans for a Fixed-Term Parliament Act, equitable constituency funding laws, electoral boundary reforms, and absentee or postal voting access for Sabahans and Sarawakians residing outside their home states. The Home Detention Bill, which the Home Minister had previously pledged to table this year, was also not in the platform. ALSO READ: AG-Public Prosecutor separation of powers still in study phase Projek Sama also urged the government to institutionalise the use of Green and White Papers to encourage public consultations on significant legal or policy reforms. 'Without such papers, stakeholder engagement often occurs in silos, delaying meaningful outcomes. This is evident in how long the Political Financing Bill and Parliamentary Services Act have been delayed,' it said. The group also called for clear public deadlines for all Bills and amendments listed on the platform, with explanations for any delays. 'It is imperative that the government's efforts to reform our institutions go beyond superficial changes. "PetaRI should not just be a public relations exercise. The rakyat expect real, meaningful change, not token gestures dressed up as progress,' it added. When launching PetaRI and the AI Legal Justice Roadmap 2025-2026 on Friday (May 23), Azalina had said a decision on separating the roles of the AG and PP could potentially be finalised before the 16th General Election.
Malaysiakini
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Projek Sama flags key omissions in reforms initiative
A civil society group has raised concerns over the absence of significant reform promises in the government's newly-launched Institutional Reform Map Microsite (PetaRI) platform designed to track the progress of institutional reforms. While welcoming the initiative for improving transparency, Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama) highlighted the omission of critical reforms, some of which were previously pledged in Pakatan Harapan's manifesto...
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Survey: Majority polled think Najib should not be pardoned
KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — More than half of respondents in a survey on Malaysians' views about the criminal justice system said they oppose the pardon plea by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak. The survey, conducted by Merdeka Center and commissioned by Projek Sama, a civil society group consisting mostly of academics, polled over 1,200 Malaysians between March and April this year. Respondents were asked four primary questions, one of which specifically addressed their opinion on Najib's pardon. Only a third supported the plea, while over half opposed it, citing feelings of betrayal. 'Overall, 32.7 per cent of respondents supported his pardon plea on the grounds that he has contributed to the country, while 57.8 per cent believed that Najib should not be pardoned for various reasons,' the group said in a statement. Among those who opposed the pardon, slightly over a third said their objection stemmed from the belief that Najib's scandal was a betrayal of the people and caused significant losses. Another 15 per cent cited pending cases as their reason for opposing the former prime minister's pardon, while 8.1 per cent pointed to Najib's refusal to admit guilt despite his conviction. Najib is currently seeking to serve his remaining sentence at home, even as he continues to face trials for multiple corruption and criminal breach of trust charges related to the 1MDB scandal. Across ethnic backgrounds, Najib's pardon bid enjoyed the strongest support from Indian respondents at 62.2 per cent, followed by Muslim Bumiputeras at 50.5 per cent and Malays at 43 per cent. Among ethnic Chinese, 95 per cent rejected his plea, while 51 per cent of Bumiputeras of other faiths also opposed it. Across political leanings, unsurprisingly, Najib enjoyed the highest support from Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters, at 67 per cent. Among Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporters, 87 per cent said they opposed Najib's pardon. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) camp was evenly divided, with 46.1 per cent supporting the pardon bid and 44.6 per cent opposing it. Among supporters of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and Warisan, slightly over half of respondents opposed the pardon, while 39.2 per cent were in favour. The survey also found that opposition to Najib's pardon was markedly higher among urban dwellers at 63.6 per cent. However, those with household incomes below RM4,000 were mostly supportive. Projek Sama said the survey was commissioned to commemorate May 9, the date marking the fall of the BN government led by Najib, driven by public anger over a consumption tax blamed for the soaring cost of living and the 1MDB scandal.
Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Majority of Indians back Najib's bid for royal pardon, survey finds
Public opinion on former prime minister Najib Razak's bid for a pardon is divided along ethnic and political lines, according to a survey by Merdeka Center. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Najib Razak's strongest backing for a royal pardon comes from the Indian community, with 62.2% of respondents supporting the former prime minister's bid, according to a survey by think tank Merdeka Center. Commissioned by reform group Projek Sama, the survey was conducted from March 27 to April 17 with 1,210 respondents across all 222 parliamentary constituencies. According to the survey, public opinion on Najib's bid for a pardon is split along ethnic and political lines. While Najib enjoys majority support from Barisan Nasional voters and segments of the Malay and Muslim Bumiputera communities, the overall sentiment is against any move to pardon him. 'A total of 57.8% of respondents opposed his pardon plea, citing betrayal of public trust, ongoing legal cases, and his refusal to admit guilt. 'In contrast, only 32.7% supported a pardon, mostly on the grounds of Najib's contributions to the country,' said Thomas Fann, who heads Projek Sama. Support among Muslim Bumiputeras stood at 50.5%, while 43% of Malays backed the pardon. In contrast, 95% of Chinese respondents and 51% of non-Muslim Bumiputeras opposed the move. Najib, 70, was convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd and has been serving his sentence at Kajang prison since Aug 23, 2022. On Feb 2 last year, the Federal Territories Pardons Board announced that the former prime minister's prison sentence had been halved from 12 years to six, and his fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million. Fann said that most urban respondents, or 63.6%, were opposed to pardoning Najib. 'The respondents who reject the idea of pardoning Najib range from high-income groups at 69.5% to 74.7% to private sector and self-employed workers at 63.2% to 64.5%,' he said. The survey also gauged views on fairness in sentencing by presenting two contrasting cases: a lorry driver jailed three years for stealing bananas, and a national leader jailed 12 years and fined RM210 million for embezzlement. Most respondents, or 54.8%, said the theft sentence was too harsh, while 44.3% found the embezzlement sentence appropriate. Another 40.8% said it was too light. Overall, 85.1% of respondents saw no justification for reducing the sentence in the high-profile corruption case. The survey also revealed differences in opinion regardless of political affiliation, with even BN supporters showing limited support for leniency. 'Even among BN supporters, 48.9% found the sentence fair and 32.8% thought it was too light – underlining strong public support for firm punishment in corruption cases, regardless of political affiliation,' Fann said. Merdeka Center researcher Tan Seng Keat said the 1,210-person sample was consistent with international polling standards and reflected general public sentiment, although follow-up focus groups would be needed to explore the findings in depth.
