PM: Current PSC on appointments doesn't have force of law
Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that the Parliamentary Select Committee for Major Public Appointments does not have force of law as the constitutional changes needed for its establishment have not been made.
"We don't have a PSC," the prime minister said during a press conference when asked whether the appointment of the Suhakam chairperson will be referred to the committee...
Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that the Parliamentary Select Committee for Major Public Appointments does not have force of law as the constitutional changes needed for its establishment have not been made.
"We don't have a PSC," the prime minister said during a press conference when asked whether the appointment of the Suhakam chairperson will be referred to the committee.
"We intend to have it, but to do that we need to change some provisions in (the) constitution.
"To change that, you need a two-thirds majority, and the government doesn't have that."
Pressed further, Mahathir clarified that the existing PSC could not actually function.
“They can't function legally yet. So at the moment, we go back to the old idea of making appointments... (where the) prime minister decides.
"The others can give their views, but it is the prime minister who decides,” he said.
William Leong, who chairs the PSC, previously lamented that his team was not informed about the appointment of lawyer Latheefa Koya (photo) as the new MACC chief last week.
News of the shock appointment sparked uproar due to Latheefa's past history in PKR as well as the unilateral manner in which she was picked for the job.
Leong stressed today that the PSC has the important role of overseeing government appointments, and has since requested a meeting with Mahathir to clarify its terms of reference.
According to the terms of reference sighted by Malaysiakini, the select committee's function is to “examine the appointment of important positions in the country, such as appointments to Suhakam, the Election Commission, the MACC and the Judicial Appointments Commission based on the recommendation of the government.”
It further states that this is to ensure that the appointments are made based on merit.
The PSC has powers under Standing Order 83(2) to call expert witnesses for the purpose of scrutinising such appointments.
The document does not mention the prime minister or any powers to overrule such appointments.
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