In commenting on the proposed setting up of the Department of National Integrity and Good Governance (JITN), C4 executive director Cynthia Gabriel said it seemed more like window dressing in the current context where the political leadership appeared in denial over claims of massive corruption among its top leaders.
She said MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad had a point when he said that JITN would only add another layer of bureaucracy and increase public spending.
“C4 urges for efforts towards MACC’s independence to be strengthened, and law reforms need to be carried out to enable this.
“The JITN does not come across as a convincing initiative to serve this purpose.
“In fact, the government should respect the principles of separation of powers and should not get involved in MACC investigations,” she told FMT.
Cynthia was asked to comment on Dzulkifli’s dressing down of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low, chiding him for reportedly saying that JITN would ensure MACC properly investigates corruption cases and charges perpetrators effectively.
Cynthia noted that the ministry, under Low, was unable to defend the independence of MACC during critical moments in 1MDB investigations.
“I ask again: How can JITN do so in such present circumstances?
“It is imperative that we focus on real reforms to make our institutions stronger and more independent.”
Malaysiakini today reported that Dzulkifli had hit out at Low, saying the minister should be asking for more allocations for MACC, to increase its budget, assets and workforce, and to improve the staff’s welfare instead of forming a new department when the government is on an austerity drive.
Low had said JITN would allow government agencies such as MACC to focus on their core functions without being bogged down by administrative issues.
Bernama reported Low as saying that the Integrity and Good Governance Division under the Prime Minister’s Department was being upgraded into JITN, becoming a full department.