Pak Lah watches over debate of final legacy reform bill

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 – Tun Abdullah Badawi rushed from Putrajaya and arrived in Parliament at 4.30pm.

Even though there was only an hour left to proceedings, the former prime minister wanted to see what MPs had to say in Dewan Rakyat.

They were, after all, debating the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (Siap) Bill, the last of the reform bills he had proposed when he was still premier.

Abdullah had been attending Parliament – his first since handing over power to Datuk Seri Najib Razak in April – quite regularly, earning praise from his fellow backbenchers in Barisan Nasional (BN).

An aide told The Malaysian Insider that he still wants to observe proceedings, especially the completion of the reform package that he had promised Malaysians last year.

Three other reform bills had been passed while he was still prime minister, namely the Judicial Appointments Commission and Witness Protection Bills along with the much-maligned Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Siap will cover complaints made against various enforcement agencies and is a modified version of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission that was first proposed by a Royal Commission in 2005.

Some say it is improved as it covers a wider range of agencies rather than just the police while critics say it has been watered down since it has no power to prosecute.

Abdullah will now get a chance to hear first-hand what MPs think of Siap.

But it remains to be seen if the commission will perform to expectations as opposed to how the MACC has blighted his final legacy.

 

Comments (3)Add Comment

Write comment

busy
 

Latest Comments

Penang government declassifies minutes o...
Declassify EVERYTHING. Declare everyone's assets as well. The country belongs to...
‘I’m Sabahan, they treat me worse th...
DO NOT EXPEL. Instead use their votes to ensure PR's win. PR must promise that t...
A dept just to handle foreign workers
Dear Minister, The problem can only be arrested if you take the Immigration off...
PAS Kelantan serah pada Nik Aziz selesai...
Both the PBMK's CEO and RM65K gift are set to haunt TGNA for the rest of his nat...
Liow says to call off EGM II only if fre...
LTL, fresh election by this year, or in 6 months, or in 12 months or in many man...
Singapore cements military ties with US
Under a certain 13 point plan, Singapore will be re-assimilated by Malaysia. ...
The Apprentice: MCA
Liow Topshop should get ready to CLOSE SHOP. Period.

Sponsored Links