The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) said the power of appointment to key positions in many institutions was held by the prime minister and this created “an inherent risk of bias and conflict of interest”.
“With the creation of a new oversight institution, the government must ensure that an alternative, more democratic appointment process for the ombudsperson is included.
“For example, by relying on parliamentary votes, parliamentary select committees, or introducing open calls for candidates,” C4 said in a statement.
It pointed out the “disappointing” continuation of executive appointments to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Election Commission (EC) and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
Last Friday, Chief Secretary to the Government Zuki Ali announced the appointment of former Court of Appeal judge Hishamudin Yunus as Suhakam chairman for a three-year term, effective July 3.
On June 26, Ramlan Harun was appointed EC chairman, succeeding Abdul Ghani Salleh who retired the previous month.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s contract was extended for another year from May 12 following an extension from May 10, 2023. He was appointed in March 2020 after the former Pakatan Harapan government fell.
Last week, deputy law and institutional reform minister M Kula Segaran said the government was committed to establishing the ombudsman as an independent body to receive and address complaints related to the federal public service delivery system.
He was quoted by AstroAwani as saying that the proposal to establish the body was presented at the ministry’s implementation committee meeting on April 29, where it was decided that a holistic engagement session would be held for three months to determine the mechanism.
“This decision was also agreed upon in the Cabinet meeting on June 12. The process of appointing committee members from each relevant agency for the engagement session is now under way.
“This engagement session is important to ensure that the views and needs of all stakeholders are transparently and comprehensively taken into account,” he had said in response to a question on plans to enact the proposed Ombudsman Act by Sik MP Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman in the Dewan Rakyat.