> Opposition plans acid test for MACC

PKR is considering lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) when it is gazetted next year on alleged corruption by one of the nation’s top police officers.

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin (below) told an anti-ISA rally last night that he had received incriminating documents on alleged corruption by this senior police officer.

"PKR Youth is presently studying the documents with us. At the same time, we would like to test the effectiveness of the newly-legislated Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

"If we find a strong case against the senior police officer and also to test the effectiveness of the new MACC, we may decide to lodge a report with the commission after it is gazetted next year.

"This (report against the senior police officer) would be the first ever report to the new commission," he told the rally.

Shamsul, however, did not name this top police official.

The PKR Youth chief also questioned the government's motive in forming various commissions including the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) and the MACC.

'No independence' claim

He said although the government had formed the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) some years aback, until today it was seen as a ‘toothless tiger’ despite its condemnation of the use of the ISA by the government.

"Hence, we in PKR would also question the effectiveness of both the JAC and MACC as the commissions’ members would be appointed only on the recommendation of the prime minister.

"There is no independence per se in the functionality of the two commissions. It is just a cosmetic exercise," he said.

Both the JAC and MACC were tabled by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Parliament two weeks ago.

The MACC bill was passed by Parliament on Dec 16 while the JAC bill was passed the next day on Dec 17.

The passage of both bills went through despite strong concerns from lawmakers over the constitutionality and independence of the two commissions - Malaysiakini.