Letter - Consult public on key appointment

THE appointment of the new MACC chief commissioner will be made on Aug 1. This important appointment can have a very strong impact on the country’s future in all fields – political, social and economic.
Corruption is the cause of many of our socio, economic and even political ills. Social cohesion and national unity, economic growth and inflation and political stability and money politics; these serious weaknesses are already severely eroding our national progress and well-being and future.
It is of vital importance that the government makes choice well, or we will go down the well.
Ideally the public should be consulted over this choice of the new chief commissioner, to be fair to us all, and to ensure the new MACC chief has wide national support for his or her appointment and the great task and challenges combating corruption.
With a ranking of 54 out of 157 countries in the Corruption Perception Index, our performance is still dismal and discouraging.
We need a new thrust to fight corruption and a new process for selecting the new chief commissioner.
At least the special committee on anti-corruption in Parliament should be consulted and its approval obtained for the new MACC chief if broader public consultation and consideration cannot be undertaken at this time.
The special committee has three government MPs, three opposition MPs and is chaired by the Speaker of the Senate.
Thus its credentials are first rate and it should be fully consulted and should give its views publicly on the choice, so the rakyat will have more confidence in the choice of the new chief commissioner.
What are some of the criteria that government could use in making the right choice of the new chief commissioner?
First, he should be appointed from within the MACC and no outsider should be entertained. An insider will have the vast experience, competence, the operational know-how on the ground and the dedication that has been built over many years in combating the scourge of corruption.
Second, the new chief commissioner should be someone of impeccable honesty and integrity. There is no sense in having a chief who has had a chequered and sleazy record or even has a doubtful integrity in the past.
Third, the new chief commissioner must be strong in personality, character and commitment to the great cause of going all out against corruption before it spreads further in our system like cancer. He or she has to be able to stand up firmly and steadfastly against any political and commercial interference from any quarter, high or low.
Fourth, the chief commissioner has to be an inspirational leader in order to rally the MACC staff to a new stage in the war against corruption. He has to treat it as a struggle against corruption that otherwise will continue to undermine our national morality, productivity and progress.
Fifth, the chief commissioner must be someone who the general public respect for professionalism, fairness and impartiality at all times. He cannot be even suspected of political, social and commercial preferences.
Finally, the above criteria for the choice can be supplemented. But what is paramount is that the choice should be transparent, more consultative and be seen to be fair to the public, based on all the above criteria and more.
Only then will there be greater public confidence in the MACC and stronger support for its noble efforts to reduce, if not stamp out, the curse of corruption from our beloved country.
All Malaysians now wait with bated breath for the appointment of the new chief commissioner, as it will reveal the extent of our government’s sincerity and political will to prevent us falling deeper into the well of corruption.
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam
Chairman
Asli Centre of Public Policy Studies