IPCMC and Ombudsman the way forward for Malaysia: Lee Lam Thye

KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision to set up the Ombudsman Malaysia and Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) is a progressive move for the nation, according to Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
In a statement here today, he said it was time to address public grievances against any public authority in line with the new government's emphasis on improving service delivery and fighting corruption in the interest of the public.
"I hope more efforts could be made to reduce bureaucratic red tape and improve administrative efficiency in all government departments and agencies," he said.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday announced that the cabinet had agreed to convert the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) into the IPCMC and the Public Complaints Bureau into Ombudsman Malaysia to ensure a more effective management of public complaints against enforcement authorities and government departments and agencies in Malaysia, respectively.
"I am happy that the past proposals are bearing fruit as we need both of the Ombudsman and IPCMC which I have been advocating for many years.
"These reforms would help improve the image of the country as complaints will be handled by an independent body," he added.
"We are looking forward to see how this system could be implemented to bring about the institutional reforms which should make all our government institutions truly independent and professional to serve the desired objectives," he said, adding that almost all developed countries have an Ombudsman. — Bernama