Forum speaker moots one parliamentary watchdog for each ministry

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Opportunities for corrupt practices would be severely reduced if every ministry is monitored by its own parliamentary committee, a forum on good governance was told today.

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan, one of three panellists discussing what was needed for governance in Malaysia, acknowledged the existence of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), but said individual committees would provide greater oversight.

“Currently the PAC oversees the whole picture but if there is a committee focused on one particular ministry, it would make corruption difficult,” he said.

Wan Saiful suggested the formation of informal All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) comprising interested members of parliament as an immediate step towards his suggestion.

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong and human rights activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan were other panellists at the “National Economic Governance: Role of Parliamentary Committees” forum.

Liew and Ambiga both said there was a need to end the practice of the prime minister controlling the finance ministry, as it was important that the two functions be distinct from each other.

“Currently, the PM is also finance minister and this allows him to easily approve budgets as and when he needs” Liew said.

Ambiga, who agreed with Liew’s call, further proposed a two-term limit on the position of the prime minister.

from Malay Mail Online | All http://ift.tt/2b6Vfzr

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