Cabinet to discuss Anti-Corruption Bill

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 16 - Tomorrow’s meeting of the Cabinet will discuss a memorandum on the proposed Commission on the Prevention of Corruption Bill, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said today.

Upon approval by the Cabinet, the bill will be tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat at the current session, he said, adding that the second reading would take place mostly likely on Dec 11 after the conclusion of the debate on Budget 2009.

The bill is one of three which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi wants to have passed by the Dewan Rakyat before the transition of power following the Umno elections in March next year.

The others are the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill and the Special Complaints Commission Bill.

“I have asked the parliament authorities to give priority to the Commission on the Prevention of Corruption Bill and I hope we can table, debate and pass the bill at this session,” Mohamed Nazri told reporters after a Aidilfitri reception of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), here.

Mohamed Nazri said the commission was expected to be set up early next year. He also said that the Witness Protection Bill would be tabled at the current session of the Dewan Rakyat.

Mohamed Nazri said the memorandum on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill was being prepared and would be presented to the Cabinet, if possible, in a week or two.

“I believe we can table the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill at the current session of the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.

At the same news conference, ACA director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said the proposed commission would permit the recruitment of contract staff and officers experienced in specific fields.

“Right now, we are getting our officers and staff through the Public Service Commission (PSC) and whomsoever they send us, we have to take in. So, we have to train them.

“Besides, the commission will recruit suitable officers on contract or attachment to assist us, to improve our service,” he said.

On allegations of irregularity in the government’s purchase of helicopters from Eurocopter to replace the Nuri aircraft now used by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), he said: “We will look into it.”

“If there is irregularity in any case at all, we will investigate,” he said.

On allegations of irregularity in the staging of the Monsoon Cup sailing competition in Terengganu, Ahmad Said said the ACA conducted several checks and found no such thing.

“There was no corruption. We should clear this thing up. Otherwise, it will give a bad image not only to Terengganu but Malaysia as a whole as the world event organiser, he said. - Bernama