A senior Amanah leader today said that the formation of the National Integrity and Management Department (JITN) is a redundant move that would only serve to weaken the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

In opposing the move, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub called on Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low to focus instead on implementing past recommendations made by the MACC advisory panels to reform the anti-graft body.

"The proposals include transforming MACC into an independent body that is answerable to Parliament.

"Secondly, we proposed according to MACC with prosecution powers. This was something I recalled through a series of meetings," said Salahuddin, who sat on a MACC advisory panel 2009 to 2013 while serving as Kubang Kerian MP.

He added that at the time, the panel – which also comprised Barisan Nasional MPs – had submitted the same recommendation on prosecution powers for MACC for two consecutive years.

"Just imagine how difficult it was for us (opposition and BN MPs) to reach a consensus on the issue of prosecution powers for MACC," he said in describing the agreement as a major victory for proponents of a more independent MACC.

As it stands, Salahuddin noted that while MACC had often highlighted its efforts to investigate various high-profile cases, there were matters that did not proceed beyond the Attorney-General's Chambers.

Last Saturday, Low (photo) had said that JITN's focus will include administrative issues, delivery and governance, as part of Putrajaya's Government Transformation Programme (GTP).

'Najib should not try to tame MACC'

Salahuddin, meanwhile, also said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should not have given an impression of the government's indirect control over MACC through donating to the graft buster's Yayasan Prihatin.

"This (donation) is a funny situation, to donate to a MACC related foundation.

"As prime minister, he should see that every single action that he does...the people can interpret it like 'petting a cat to tame it'," he said.

As a symbol of the government's support for the MACC, Najib Razak had on Sunday announced an RM5 million allocation for the commission's Yayasan Prihatin.

His announcement was made at MACC's 50th-anniversary celebrations at the commission's new complex in Putrajaya.