Day: September 3, 2015

Race relations and the Federal Constitution – Shad Saleem Faruqi

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Source: The Star Online

Shad Saleem Faruqi - file pic

Shad Saleem Faruqi – file pic

BY SHAD SALEEM FARUQI

Despite its imperfections, the document was a significant attempt to balance the rights, privileges and legitimate expectations of every community.

DOES our Constitution divide us or does it provide workable arrangements for our multi-hued nation to live together in peace and harmony? At a Round Table Discussion organised by the Institut Kajian Etnik of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on Sept 1, this was one of the gripping issues.

I submitted that all Constitutions are imperfect documents. They have to mirror existentialist realities while also cradling a lofty vision of the future. The Malayan Constitution was no exception. Despite its imperfections, it was a significant attempt to balance the rights, privileges and legitimate expectations of every community. Read more →

Sarawak to allow some banned groups back into state

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Source: The Malaysian Insider

Anti-graft groups and civil society organisations that are barred from Sarawak will be allowed in said its chief minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, as long as they are not “religious and racial bigots”.

Adenan said this after attending a dialogue session at the International Anti-Corruption Conference 2015 in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was asked by an audience member whether he would reverse a ban instituted by his predecessor Tan Sri Taib Mahmud on several groups and individuals. Read more →

Exchange MACC for new anti-graft body with more bite, says civil society group

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Source: The Malaysian Insider

Institute of Democracy and Economics Affairs (IDEAS) chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan says the proposed Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC) will create more internal checks and balances. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, September 3, 2015.

Civil society groups and a think tank have proposed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) be abolished and replaced with a new “constitutionally mandated” body which will have more bite.

This followed the statement made by Minister in Charge of Integrity and Governance Datuk Paul Low yesterday that plans are afoot to take the anti-graft body out of civil service and the Prime Minister’s Department and make it answerable to Parliament instead.

Institute of Democracy and Economics Affairs (IDEAS), together with the Malaysian Bar, the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, Citizens’ Network for a Better Malaysia, and Transparency International Malaysia said the new MACC, which should be renamed the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC), should be elevated to a new constitutionally mandated commission similar to the Election Commission.

“The new IACC that we propose should have full autonomy and power over anti-corruption policies, practices and directives, recruitment and discipline of officers, as well as powers of oversight and supervision,” said IDEAS head Wan Saiful Wan Jan in a statement today. Read more →

Bertindak tanpa rasa takut lawan rasuah, Abu Kassim beritahu pegawai SPRM

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Sumber: The Malaysian Insider

Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed berkata, pihaknya tidak memberi sebarang kekebalan kepada mana-mana pihak daripada disiasat oleh SPRM, malah bersedia untuk berkorban dalam memperjuangkan kepentingan awam. – Gambar fail The Malaysian Insider, 2 September, 2015.

Pegawai Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) diingatkan supaya bertindak tanpa rasa takut atau pilih kasih, kata Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.

Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM itu berkata, pihaknya tidak memberi sebarang kekebalan kepada mana-mana pihak daripada disiasat oleh badan anti rasuah itu, malah bersedia untuk berkorban dalam memperjuangkan kepentingan awam.

“Kami percaya untuk mengelak daripada terjerumus ke dalam isu kekebalan, semua institusi dalam sistem keadilan jenayah mesti bertindak mengikut merit setiap kes,” katanya dalam ucapan semasa Persidangan Antirasuah Antarabangsa (IACC) ke-16 di Pusat Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC) hari ini.

Mesej Abu Kassim kepada perwakilan persidangan itu dibacakan timbalannya Datuk Mustafar Ali. Read more →

MACC may be made independent, outside civil service, says Paul Low

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Source: The Malaysian Insider

Plans are afoot to take the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) out of the civil service and Prime Minister’s Department, and make it answerable to Parliament.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan said a special committee had been set up to look into this.

“Making the MACC a separate service will require an amendment to the constitution for which two-thirds majority support in Parliament is necessary,” he told reporters after opening the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) 2015 in Putrajaya yesterday. Read more →

Message to the corrupt – Your days of impunity are numbered – Jose Ugaz

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Source: MalaysiaKini

Transparency International chief Jose Ugaz

In the heart of the administrative capital, Transparency International chief Jose Ugaz zooms in on the RM2.6 billion controversy. Below is his full speech delivered at the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC).

Let me first thank the IACC for bringing so many people together as part of our great global movement to tackle corruption.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for hosting the conference with the IACC.

And the Malaysian people for welcoming us to their beautiful country at these momentous time.

This week Malaysia celebrated Merdeka – its independence from colonial rule and freedom from oppression.

Independence and freedom. The building blocks of a fair and just society.

All countries face challenges, especially new countries, and I looked back at some of the statements from the founding father of the nation, (Tunku) Abdul Rahman, made at the time of independence in 1957.

There were two words that he used that stood out for me – honesty and integrity. Read more →