Ideas lauds political appointment reform, but says more measures needed

The Institute For Democracy And Economic Affairs (Ideas) today lauded Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his administration’s efforts to reform political appointments.

“We welcome recent announcements and steps taken under the current government,” said Ideas research senior manager Alissa Marianne Rode at the Pantau Kuasa launch.

This includes the announcement that Auditor-General Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi that government-linked companies (GLCs) would be audited starting next year, following an expansion of the National Audit Department’s powers.

Rode (above) added that the cabinet is reportedly also mooting a new law governing federal bodies and the formation of a committee to streamline statutory bodies.

However, she urged the government to implement several recommendations that will ensure statutory bodies and GLCs meet their policy objectives instead of being diverted towards political interests.

She called for regulatory reforms to strengthen governance, including standards to prevent conflicts of interest, institutionalised procedures for board appointments, and the mandatory publishing of annual reports.

She added that appointments should also require independent and nonpartisan vetting and selection processes and parliamentary oversight.

We will be watching

Rode then noted that Anwar had previously mentioned political appointments are vetted as an administrative measure.

“The intentions are good, but Ideas will be watching, along with the people, to see that initiatives continue and that the reforms are turned into laws that really institutionalise these practices,” she said.

On Monday, Wan Suraya said 2,000 GLCs will be audited from next year onwards after the approval of the Audit Act 1957 amendment bill in July, which significantly strengthens the auditor-general’s powers.

Last month, Anwar said a committee has been set up to streamline statutory bodies to reduce their numbers while ensuring efficiency.

The exercise was necessary due to the large number of entities, some of which have overlapping functions, he was quoted as saying by The Star.

In July, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced the introduction of a law regarding statutory bodies aimed at strengthening the legal governance of the bodies with an emphasis on loans, investments, and the establishment of subsidiaries.

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