KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed to establish a more comprehensive Ombudsman Malaysia.
In a statement, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department also said the government, through the Law and Institutional Reforms Agenda Implementation Committee, has agreed to amend the Whistleblower Protection Act to strengthen the law.
The committee, which held its first meeting today, said it would engage stakeholders at the state and federal levels within the next three months over the two proposals.
"The stakeholders include agencies, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups, Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat Parliamentary Select Committees as well as academicians," it said.
The committee, through the engagement sessions, will seek to refine details about the scope, structure, and functions of Ombudsman Malaysia as well as a proposed centralised agency for whistleblower protection.
The proposals will then be submitted to the Cabinet.
"The government intends for these two legal reforms to be tabled during the parliamentary session in October.
"The establishment of this committee also reflects the unity government's commitment to ensuring institutional and legal reform efforts are implemented effectively."
The meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, also involved Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.