KUALA LUMPUR – The government is currently in the process of appointing committee members from several agencies for the soon-to-be-established Ombudsman Malaysia.
Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said this is an important process to ensure that the views and needs of all parties are taken into account transparently and comprehensively in establishing Ombudsman Malaysia for the benefit of the people and the country.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (law and institutional reform) was responding to a question posed by Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (Besut-PN) on the government’s plan to merge the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) with the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) as part of the effort to form Ombudsman Malaysia.
She added that the proposal for its establishment was also put forward during the implementation committee for reform and law agenda meeting on April 29.
A decision was made during the meeting to conduct a thorough engagement session over three months to finalise mechanisms for the establishment and implementation of the independent body, she added.
“The decision was further endorsed during the cabinet meeting on June 12,” she added.
“The government is committed to establishing Ombudsman Malaysia as an independent body that will receive and handle complaints related to the public service delivery system.
“In this regard, the Madani government is exploring a unique model that integrates the PCB with the EAIC.
The proposal for the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia to replace the PCB was made in 2018 by then-prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to ensure that complaints relating to government ministries, departments, and agencies could be addressed more effectively.
An ombudsman is a state official appointed to provide a check on government activity in the citizens’ interest and to oversee the investigation of complaints of improper government activities against citizens.
It was previously reported that the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department stated that a law and institutional reforms committee would refine details on Ombudsman Malaysia’s structure and functions. They would also propose a centralised agency for whistleblower protection.
The proposals would be submitted to the cabinet, and enabling bills would be tabled in the parliamentary session in October. – June 28, 2024