KUALA LUMPUR: The government will mull several new measures to expedite the tabling of the Ombudsman Malaysia Act which is aimed at enhancing integrity and governance in addressing public complaints.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said this includes introducing a new investigative body under Ombudsman Malaysia to provide an annual report in Parliament.
"The government previously had agreed on the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia without any investigative bodies to handle any maladministration.
"This has caused the existing challenges not to be fully addressed and does not bring any significant changes in maladministration.
"Hence, the unity government is committed to the principle that the Ombudsman needs to be an independent body that practices impartiality in the investigation of any public complaints against public service delivery with organised procedures," she said in a parliamentary written reply, yesterday.
Azalina said this in response to a question from Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (Perikatan Nasional-Marang) on the government's plan to establish an Ombudsman to curb maladministration and wrongdoings among politicians and civil servants.
She added that the government would also study Ombudsman policies and laws in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden, Australia, Thailand and Namibia.
She said the Public Complaints Bureau was the main agency which manages maladministration complaints against public service delivery, currently.
"Only 178 people were tasked to manage the complaints. Hence, a functioning and powerful Ombudsman establishment is important to ensure an efficient public administration and better governance in the public service delivery."
In 2019, the Pakatan Harapan government under the administration of Tun Dr Mahathir introduced the Ombudsman Malaysia law as part of its reformation agenda.
During Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's administration, the former law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the government has submitted the bill for review and approval from the Attorney-General's Chambers before being tabled in Parliament.
In 2021, former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob stated that the Ombudsman draft bill was in its final stages and is expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2022.