PETALING JAYA: The proposed Malaysian Ombudsman must be independent as anything less would undermine its role to strengthen accountability and good governance, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The Malaysian Integrity Institute member said that the success of the Ombudsman will depend largely on how it is structured to have the resources it needs to operate and safeguarded from political interference.
“The government must make sure the Ombudsman is empowered with the authority to investigate all government agencies, and supported with adequate resources.
“Any appointment processes, funding, and operational frameworks must also be structured so that the Ombudsman serves only the public interest,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 17).
Lee also addressed concerns that the Ombudsman could render existing oversight bodies, such as the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), redundant, noting that both bodies have distinct but complementary roles.
“The EAIC focuses specifically on misconduct within enforcement agencies, whereas an Ombudsman has a broader mandate covering all forms of maladministration across government,” he said.
To avoid duplication, he advised the government to streamline any overlapping functions under the Ombudsman framework or clearly define the respective jurisdictions of both bodies.
“What matters most is a system that is efficient, transparent, and easily understood by the public.
“The establishment of a Malaysian Ombudsman offers a timely opportunity to rebuild public confidence in government services,” he added.
This comes after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed that the government was planning to establish a Malaysian Ombudsman after a meeting of the Special Cabinet Committee on National Governance (JKKTN), on Dec 8.
