KUALA LUMPUR: The mechanism for the implementation of the Ombudsman Malaysia watchdog will be finalised by the first quarter of next year.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran said the discussions on the policy for its establishment was ongoing between stakeholders, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations through several workshop sessions.
In his winding-up speech of the 2025 Supply Bill in Parliament today, he said a more holistic engagement session also included focus group discussions with state government agencies.
"Two zones have already conducted the sessions, namely the northern zone and Sabah zone.
"The holistic engagement sessions will continue in Sarawak, eastern, southern and central zones," he said.
He added that these engagement sessions were decided in the Institutional Reform Committee meeting No. 1/2024.
Kulasegaran said following the decision, a cabinet paper was then prepared by the Prime Minister's Department's Legal Affairs Division.
"The cabinet meeting had agreed on June 12 that the holistic engagement session would be conducted by the Legal Affairs Division in collaboration with the Public Complaints Bureau and the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission."
In April this year, the Legal Affairs Division announced that the government had agreed to establish a more comprehensive Ombudsman Malaysia through a three-month study.
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.