KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making Malaysia a corruption-free nation.
In a keynote address at the 15th edition of Invest Malaysia, Dr Mahathir said Pakatan Harapan had spent the better part of its first year in Putrajaya trying to plug the almost bottomless pit created by 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
“It has always been said that no nation will survive without strong institutions. The rise and fall of nations depend heavily on the strengths of its institutions.
“That is why the first order of the new government is to ensure our institutions, which had been compromised, are fixed and strengthened.
“Never again shall this nation go through the dark episode of a kleptocratic regime.”
Dr Mahathir said stronger checks and balances against the government should raise the trust and confidence of Malaysians and the global community.
Among the initiatives undertaken by the government were the formation of the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-corruption, the launch of the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption, as well as the National Anti-Corruption Plan, which entailed the need for asset declarations and the abolishment of the practice of issuing recommendation letters.
“We have empowered the Election Commission (EC) and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“Discussions are in progress on transparency in political funding, strengthening Parliament, the National Audit Department and reforming the electoral system.”
He said the government had undertaken measures to ensure that there were no more active politicians appointed as heads of foreign mission and in any listed government-linked companies.
He said the government was also looking at amending the Constitution and certain acts to limit the prime minister’s tenure to two terms, as well as the separation of the responsibilities of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor. He added that these two changes require amendments to the Constitution.
The MACC Act will also be amended, where the MACC chief commissioner will be appointed by a Parliamentary Select Committee, he said.
“EC is reviewing the transparency and robustness of our election system, and they will present their findings and recommendations in two months’ time to the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption.
“The draft for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission is almost finalised and we are in final discussions with the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“To ensure transparency and budget integrity in the budgeting process, it has been agreed that a mid-year budget review will be undertaken.
“The criteria for off-budget allocation should be scrutinised and every expense on public money shall be recorded promptly and carefully monitored in accordance with the established financial procedures.”
Earlier in his speech, Dr Mahathir thanked the rakyat for voting for PH as it had helped averted a financial disaster.
“I cannot imagine the disaster the nation would have been in if the majority of Malaysians did not rise to the occasion,” he said of the 14th General Election.
“We averted the financial disaster waiting to happen if the Ponzi scheme to cover the 1MDB hole was not discovered and reversed.”