The proposal to set-up an ombudsman to investigate all public complaints, including those against ministers, is being studied by the Attorney-General's Chambers, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

He said the AG is collecting suggestions on the formation of the independent body and the government has yet to make a decision.

"There is no approval from the cabinet, the proposal is still in the research stages by the AG," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

As for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), Abdullah said this too is with the AG.

"The AG is studying the views and memorandums from the various quarters before submitting a report to me," he added.

Various proposals

Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak also clarified that the government has not made a decision on the ombudsman.

He said the government was currently looking into the matter and was getting the views from various parties.

"We are getting the views from various parties, and as such, no decision has been made by the government (on the matter) so far," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

He said, the government would issue a statement and make a final decision on the matter when it was ready.

Najib said, the government had received various proposals on ways to resolve the problem but the ombudsman proposal need not necessarily be accepted.

"There could be a better way or perhaps a better institution to achieve the objective to ensure a more effective administration and with integrity," he said.

Both the premier and his deputy were responding to a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz yesterday that the government would set up an ombudsman to look into the complaints against the authorities, including ministers.

An ombudsman is a government appointee who investigates complaints by private persons against the government.

Serve as alternative

Nazri was quoted as saying yesterday that the independent body could also serve as an alternative to the IPCMC.

He also said it was unfair for the police to be monitored by the IPCMC when there had been many complaints against others in the public sector, but no investigations had been carried out.

Nazri said the establishment of the body to enable the government to be fair to the people, was being studied from all aspects and would be implemented on a centralised basis so that the government's delivery system would be more effective.

As such, he reiterated the government had so far not made any decision on the proposed ombudsman.