EVEN with postponement of proceedings by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee for Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department into the shareholding fiasco involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, a social activist has mooted the idea of broadcasting live the event.
Lawyer-cum-human rights advocate Charles Hector suggested amending the existing standing order to ensure greater transparency and openness “just like watching parliamentary sessions over TV and Internet”.
“Otherwise, this will yet be another ‘secret’ proceeding where I believe the number of Government MPs is more than the Opposition,” he pointed out in his latest blog. “Remember that all MPs are the peoples’ representatives and as such, they are duty-bound to keep their constituents informed.”
Hector also took a swipe at the PSC which comes under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department by pointing out their trustworthiness and competency to look into this issue.
“We have seen our MPs in action and we wonder about the competency of most – and their capacity to be independent as most have no personal opinion/views and are merely ‘yes man’ to their party bosses.”
In the latest twist, Malaysiakini reported that PAS’ Kuala Krai MP Abdul Latiff Rahman who is the select committee’s head has decided to postpone Azam’s hearing – to the dismay of four opposition members in the committee – following an objection by the MACC head honcho.
Azam has given various reasons, including that he had filed a defamation suit on the matter and that the hearing could be sub judice as it may touch on matters that will be considered by the courts.
On Jan 16, Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun told The Star that the hearing will not be open to the public due to Parliamentary standing order.
“In fact, standing order disallows discussion or even disclosure of witnesses, witness statements and contents of the proceedings until a report has been presented to the Dewan,” contended Azhar.
Dr Edmund Terence Gomez who resigned from the MACC’s Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel last month has also urged that Azam’s hearing should to be open to the public and media to ensure that there is no attempt to cover up.
In a related development, Hector also called on the select committee to recommend the sacking of chairman of the MACC’s Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel Datuk Borhan Dolah and his panel as well as Tan Sri Abu Zahar Nika Ujang who is chairman of the MACC’s Anti-Corruption Advisory Board.
This is in view of their failure to implement a proper check and balance mechanism as well as to appoint “more democratic persons” to be chairman of both panels. – Jan 18, 2022
Main photo credit: Borneo Post Online
