Group: Appoint MACC chief from within

PUTRAJAYA: Form a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to scrutinise and pick the replacement for outgoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Com­mission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim, said the G25 group.

The group, which represents eminent Malays, said in a statement that such key appointments in the Government should be made in an open and transparent manner.

“During the select committee hearings, the MPs, as committee members representing the voice of the people, will examine whether the Govern­ment is justified in choosing the most qualified persons based on criteria that is published.

“The candidates shortlisted and given to the PSC for selection shall include both internal candidates in the MACC as well candidates outside the agency,” the group said.

It cited Indonesia as example of a country that appointed its chief commissioner of the Corruption Eradi­cation Commission (KDK) through a parliamentary committee.

“The changes in the KDK and appointment of its chief commissioner by a parliamentary committee have helped improve Indonesia’s ranking in the global measurement of corruption indices.

In a separate statement, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan said MACC deputy commissioner (prevention) Datuk Mustafar Ali was the most suitable candidate to take over as chief.

The CEO of the local think-tank said it is better to appoint a replacement from within MACC than getting an outsider.

“As the Number One and Number Two in MACC are going to retire, the best candidate would be Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali as (he is the) third highest ranked official in the Com­mission.

“There will be better continuity in MACC’s transformation if its own officers took over, rather than a candidate that is “parachuted” in,” said Wan Saiful.