KUALA LUMPUR, 11 March 2009: The Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission Bill 2009 was tabled for the first reading in Parliament today by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
The Bill is to protect the interest of the public by preventing and checking misconduct by enforcement officers.
It is also aimed at educating and creating awareness on integrity required of enforcement agencies so as to reduce incidences of misconduct among enforcement officers.
Under the Bill, the commission can visit the premises of enforcement agencies, including police stations and lock-ups, and make any recommendation deemed fit.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the advice of the prime minister, can appoint not more than seven commissioners, including a chairperson and deputy chairperson, who are not serving or have served as enforcement officers.
The Bill also provides for the setting up of a Complaints Committee to receive complaints on misconduct, and to open and maintain a register on all complaints received by the commission.
The Complaints Committee will weigh the complaints made, determine the kind of misconduct committed, investigate the complaints, and update the complainants on the status of their complaints and the action taken.
The commission can also set up any other committee felt necessary or suitable to facilitate its functions.
In carrying out its investigations, the commission can cooperate with any other investigation and law enforcement agencies, as well as any state government or federal government department.
Income tax amendments
Earlier, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha tabled a Bill to amend Clauses 2 to 7 of the Income Tax Act 1967 for the first reading.
There will also be a new Section 46B in the Income Tax Act (Amendment) 2009 with a provision for a tax cut with interest on the amount spent by an individual to buy a housing unit.
With this amendment, an individual is eligible to get a personal tax relief of up to RM10,000 on the interest accrued each year of assessment for three consecutive years. — Bernama
