More time needed to review committee that will probe MACC officers

PARLIAMENT | The government needs more time to review the proposal to create an independent committee that will investigate complaints made against MACC officers.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said the proposal will be brought to the cabinet for consideration “in the near future”.

“Through engagement sessions and feedback received from government agencies, there is a need for further research regarding some aspects, particularly the governance aspect.

“The results and views from the relevant parties will be taken up for consideration by the cabinet in the near future,” he said during the wind-up of the Supply Bill 2024 committee-stage debates.

On April 19, the cabinet agreed to establish a pro-tem committee to examine placing the MACC under the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC)’s supervision.

Ramkarpal (above) said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said chaired a discussion with the EAIC, Attorney-General’s Chambers, MACC, and Public Service Department to discuss the matter on May 2.

“Several more engagements have been carried out with public service agencies and NGOs on May 8, and government and opposition MPs on June 14,” he added.

Ramkarpal was responding to Gobind Singh Deo (Pakatan Harapan-Damansara) who questioned when an independent committee would be formed to investigate MACC officers who were accused of misconduct.

To that, Ramkarpal said the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board, the Special Committee on Corruption, and the Complaints Committee under the MACC continue to carry out their functions.

He also said the MACC was reviewing methods to strengthen the roles of the committees further.

He said between 2018 and 2023, 42 disciplinary actions have been taken against MACC officers accused of misconduct.

The disciplinary actions were in the form of warnings, fines, forfeiture of emoluments, postponement or reductions in salary, demotion, and dismissals.

“Out of the 42 disciplinary actions, 15 MACC members were subject to dismissal,” he said.

Death row inmates

Meanwhile, Ramkarpal said RM12 million was allocated for the review applications and processes of those currently subjected to mandatory death sentences, including for legal aid.

He said 1,020 prisoners will benefit from the government’s move to abolish mandatory death sentences for 12 offences earlier in the year.

“As of Oct 31, a total of 924 review applications have been submitted to the court, namely 807 death sentence reviews and 117 life imprisonment reviews.

“The first case hearing for a sentence review under Act 847 will be held on Nov 14 at the Federal Court in Putrajaya,” he said.

He added that there was no time frame to complete this review process.

The Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 removes the mandatory death penalty for 12 offences including drug trafficking, murder, treason, and terrorism.

The law also removes the death penalty entirely as an option for seven offences - including attempted murder and kidnapping.

The act, as well as the Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Act 2023, were passed by the Dewan Rakyat on April 3 and Dewan Negara on April 11.

Upon the laws taking effect, 90 days were allowed - for those sentenced to death or imprisonment for natural life, with their sentences upheld by the Federal Court - to apply for resentencing.

Aside from these amendments, a moratorium on the death penalty was already in place since 2017.

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