Make reform happen

#RasuahBusters, as the secretariat of the former APPG on Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption together with civil society and professional groups, welcome the government's efforts to demonstrate its commitment to full disclosure and the pursuit of legal action in relation to corrupt practices, without fear or favour.

Fairness and transparency in the implementation of that commitment can only be ensured through institutional reforms, which must be implemented immediately to avoid abuse of power and tyranny.

Among the important reforms that need to be implemented urgently include the separation of powers between the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor, the amendments to Whistleblowers Protection Act 2010, enactment of political financing laws, amendments to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Act 2009, comprehensive amendments to the MACC Act 2009 and the full implementation of the NACP.

The implementation of these institutional reforms at this time is seen as critical to ensure that politics and executive power is not perceived as dominating the country and jeopardising the stability of the democratic system, which is based on the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary.

In our full support of the government's commitment to fight corruption and abuse of power, all parties must ensure that the integrity and independence of the judiciary are guaranteed, and that it is not subjected to interference or attacks.

We state that All-Party Parliamentary Groups should be approved by Parliament, as APPGMs provide a vital a forum where oversight and matters of policy and stakeholder input can be discussed inclusively among civil societies groups, experts and the Members of Parliament.

Fighting corruption is not exclusively tasked to the government, therefore, the willingness of all parties to engage should be taken into account in ensuring that the promised institutional reforms can be realised promptly and efficiently.

Tan Sri Dr Syed Hamid Albar

Tan Sri Mohamed Nazir Tun Razak

Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub

Datuk Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff

Prof Dr Edmund Terence Gomez

Shah Hakim Zain

Maha Balakrishnan

Anas Zubedy

Christopher Leong

Nurhayati Nordin (#RasuahBusters)

Dr Tricia Yeoh (Institut Demokrasi dan Hal Ehwal Ekonomi-IDEAs)

Dr Muhammad Mohan (Transparency International Malaysia)

Cynthia Gabriel (Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism C4)

Tn Hj Badlishah Sham Baharin (IKRAM)

Tharma Pillai (UNDI 18)

Regards,