Minister in the Prime Minister Paul Low said he cannot comment on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's decisionn to clear its officers implicated in the Teoh Beng Hock case of any wrongdoing.

 

"I know (the family are not happy), but I can't comment," he said.

 

Low (left) was asked to respond to a memorandum sent by Teoh's family to Low, calling for disclosure on MACC's investigations which found which cleared the trio named in the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the DAP political aide's death.

The minister in the charge of integrity was also quiet on sedition investigations against DAP parliamnetary leader Lim Kit Siang, for saying that Teoh was killed.

 

"I have nothing to do with it. I can't comment," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya.

Teoh was found dead at the Selangor MACC building, after being quizzed overnight, five years ago.

New commmittee to fight corruption

Low spoke to media after announcing the formation of the Governance and Integrity Committee (Jitu) to combat corruption and enhance good governance in government bodies.

Low will co-chair the committee with the relevant ministers, chief ministers, menteri besar and the heads of the agencies.

"This will be implemented effective from the third quarter (of the year) onward," he said, adding each government body will customise its plans for good governance.

"I hope to see tangible result. I hope in six month’s time  (we are) able to sense the result of change," he said.

He said the aim is to have less wastages, less leakages and fewer complaints of middlemen or soliticiting of bribes.

The committee, which Low described as the champion of change, will also identify the possible irregularities and report to MACC.

This, can be further assisted by the certified integrity officer (CeIO), who functions as the secretariat of the committee.

"Thus far, some 180 CeIOs have been trained and re-trained. Most of them were from MACC, and some were the high integrity person chosen from the government bodies," he said.

The government plans to extend the framework into GLCs and some major projects in future, he said.

"To complement the CeIOs, the role of internal auditors has been enhanced. They are now directly answerable to auditor-general, where they (answered) to department heads before," he said.

A journalist, however, pointed out that Jitu could see conflict of interest if a “tainted” minister chairs a committee.

In response, Low said that this is mitigated as he will co-chair the committees with the other ministers.

Related stories

'After Karpal, IGP wants my scalp'

IGP acts like extremist Umno politician, says DAP  

'Loyal' Pakatan seeks changes to Johor bill