JITN has no power to influence MACC probes (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The Department of National Integrity and Good Governance (JITN), to be established soon, would not have any power to influence the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) investigations, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan.
"Not only the MACC, they also include the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM), Malaysia Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (Siap) because these are all independent institutions," he said.
Met by reporters after launching Siap's Open Day and Siap Strategic Plan 2017-2022 here today, Low said the proposed JITN was to lead the transformation change in building the institutional capacity, especially among civil servants, to initiate and drive policy changes and to strengthen government processes.
On Monday, Low said JITN was being upgraded from the Integrity and Good Governance Division under the Prime Minister's Department into a full department.
Meanwhile, in Balik Pulau, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad said JITN, is "a waste" of resources.
He said the allocated budget for the JITN could be better utilised to beef up existing law enforcement units.
He noted that the new unit would undertake the same duties as the MACC's.
"Apart from the MACC, we already have Suhakam and the Integrity Institute of Malaysia and others that do the same.
"Our budget has been cut, we have zero budget to improve our assets. Why not use (the funds for the MACC) instead?" he said at a press conference here today after attending an anti-corruption programme in Madrasah Raiyah Islamiah in Balik Pulau.
He urged the federal government to consider thoroughly before approving this department to ensure the MACC still carries out its duty efficiently.