PUTRAJAYA, 16 Oct 2008: Tomorrow’s cabinet meeting will discuss the Commission on the Prevention of Corruption Bill, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said today.
If approved by cabinet, the bill will be tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat during the current session, he said.
He added that the second reading would take place mostly likely on 11 Dec 2008 after the conclusion of the debate on Budget 2009.
The bill is one of three which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants to have passed by the Dewan Rakyat before he hands over power to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak in March next year.
The others are the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill and the Special Complaints Commission Bill.
“I have asked the parliament authorities to give priority to the Commission on the Prevention of Corruption Bill and I hope we can table, debate and pass the bill at this session,” he told reporters after an Aidilfitri reception by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
Nazri said the commission was expected to be set up early next year.
He also said that the Witness Protection Bill would be tabled at the current session of the Dewan Rakyat.
Nazri said the memorandum on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill was being prepared and would be presented to the cabinet, if possible, in a week or two.
“I believe we can table the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill at the current session of the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.
At the same news conference, ACA director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said the proposed commission would permit the recruitment of contract staff and officers experienced in specific fields.
“Right now, we are getting our officers and staff through the Public Service Commission (PSC) and whoever they send us, we have to take in. So, we have to train them.
“Besides, the commission will recruit suitable officers on contract or attachment to assist us, to improve our service,” he said.
On allegations of irregularity in the government’s purchase of helicopters from Eurocopter to replace the Nuri aircraft now used by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), he said: “If there is irregularity, even in any case at all, we will investigate.” On allegations of irregularity in the staging of the Monsoon Cup sailing competition in Terengganu, Ahmad Said said the ACA conducted several checks and found no such thing. — Bernama
