KUALA LUMPUR: The government is considering including provisions related to maladministration and misconduct by officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police in the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran informed the Dewan Rakyat that this matter will be refined and examined during the three-month comprehensive study for establishing Ombudsman Malaysia, which began in June this year.
"Currently, the MACC has its own complaints committee under the MACC Act 2009 to monitor and address non-criminal complaints against its officers and members. Similarly, cases of police misconduct are handled under the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC).
"However, this issue will be scrutinised and further discussed with relevant ministries and agencies in the upcoming engagement session. As stated, an in-depth study on all matters related to Ombudsman Malaysia will be conducted within three months from June 12, followed by reviews and subsequent decisions," Kulasegaran said during the minister's question time in Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to Kesavan Subramaniam (PH-Sungai Siput), who asked if the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia would address maladministration or misconduct by MACC officers and police.
In April, the Legal Affairs Division announced that the government had agreed to establish a more comprehensive Ombudsman Malaysia through a three-month study.
The Law and Institutional Reforms Agenda Implementation Committee will refine the scope, structure, and functions of Ombudsman Malaysia, and the findings will be submitted to the Cabinet for review .
Kulasegaran mentioned that the Cabinet approved the proposal on June 12, 2024.
In 2019, the Pakatan Harapan government under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad proposed the Ombudsman Malaysia law as part of its reform agenda.
During Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's government, former law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan stated that the bill had been submitted for review and approval by the Attorney-General's Chambers before being tabled in Parliament.
In 2021, former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Ombudsman Bill was in its final stages and expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2022 .