KUALA LUMPUR: The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) has questioned whether Malaysia should establish a dedicated law ministry, given the extensive reform agenda facing the government.
C4 Centre, in a statement, also raised concerns about the government's ability to deliver on its promised anti-corruption reforms, given the monumental task of reviewing over 3,000 outdated laws.
"We call for the government to continue and expand collaboration for the implementation of anti-corruption reforms with a broad range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
"This includes the urgent implementation of Strategy 3: Voice of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) under which an anti-corruption caucus is to be set up.
"The government should identify and publicise the reasons for delays to anti-corruption reforms and identify solutions to any structural impediment to reforms, which may include the establishment of a law ministry," it said.
This is following the statement by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said who revealed a list of outdated laws.
"The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department is responsible for developing most of the key legal reforms, along with various other related functions.
"However, as a mere division, its budget and capacity are limited and do not reflect the actual scope of its responsibility to oversee the reform of laws and institutions," it said.
It added the division has been responsible for several significant legislative developments, including the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 and the Jurisdictional Immunities of Foreign States Act 2023.
"Worryingly, despite the array of laws introduced or amended recently, none directly push forward the loudly touted anti-corruption and good governance reforms promised by the government.
"Especially as outlined in the National Anti-Corruption Plan 2019-2023 (NACP) and the NACS 2024-2028.
"This raises important questions, are anti-corruption reforms a priority for the government. If so, is there enough capacity to implement them?" it asked.