‘Most critical’ to reform MACC, Bar president tells govt
Published on: Saturday, June 17, 2023
By:
Tsubasa Nair, FMT
.jpg "‘Most critical’ to reform MACC, Bar president tells govt")
Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah said the procedure of appointing the MACC chief commissioner could be revamped. - (Pix FMT)
Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is the institution most in need of immediate reforms, says Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah.Her comments come after a suspect being investigated by MACC fell ill and died while in custody yesterday. The man in his 50s purportedly died at a hospital while being treated for an illness.
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Cheah said this was not the first time that a detainee had died under MACC’s custody, citing the case of Teoh Beng Hock, adding that “everybody is reminded about that incident because of this recent case”.
“I think the time is now ripe for us to seriously look into reforming MACC. Obviously, there are some things that require improvement.
“We have a government pushing for good governance and institutional reforms, and MACC should be one of the most critical institutions to be reformed immediately,” she said.
Cheah was speaking to reporters after officiating the launch of the newly updated “The Police and Your Basic Rights” booklet, more popularly known as the “Red Book”.
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Teoh, who was an aide to a then Selangor executive councillor, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009, hours after he had gone to the Selangor MACC’s headquarters on the 14th floor for questioning.
Cheah said reforms to MACC must be aimed at ensuring the anti-graft agency is accountable, transparent and free from external influence.
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“Perhaps, the (procedure in the) appointment of the (MACC chief) commissioner has to be revamped.”
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