PETALING JAYA: The Prime Minister can make a recommendation in the form of a proposal paper for the appointment of officers in which there is a report on the qualifications of the officers and the justification for the appointment, says Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad(pic).
Marzuki, who served as former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's principal private secretary, said the appointment of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner was made under the provisions of Section 5 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
"Under this section, the MACC chief commissioner is appointed by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister.
"The Prime Minister, in the appointment of any other senior government official, usually receives a recommendation from the Chief Secretary to the Government or any other party provided for under the law.
"This recommendation is made to the Prime Minister in the form of a proposal paper for the appointment of officers in which there is a report on the qualifications of officers and the justification for appointment.
"There are certain processes in the civil service that determine the eligibility of an officer to be appointed to any position.
"This includes security and integrity screening processes made by various agencies from time to time.
"For officers who are serving, they are subject to various rules and conditions including asset declarations," he said in a Facebook post Monday (Jan 10).
Marzuki was responding to Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said, who questioned whether Muhyiddin had checked MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki's background before advising his appointment.
In defending Muhyiddin, Marzuki said Azam was MACC deputy chief commissioner before he was appointed as the chief commissioner.
"I believe as a senior government official currently in service, he is subject to all these conditions and processes before and after the appointment is made.
"So there is no question as to whether the eighth prime minister had checked the background of the officers before the appointment was made.
"The appointment process is made in an orderly manner in accordance with established rules and guidelines.
"Any issues that arise thereafter shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the laws and regulations in force," he said.
