ACA To Become Commission By Year-end - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) will be made a full-fledged commission by year-end, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced Monday.

The prime minister said this was one of the four key reform initiatives that would be carried out by the government in the move to address the public concerns on corruption in the country.

He said the commission, which would have to table an annual report and be subject to queries from a parliamentary committee on the prevention of corruption, would ensure that there would be an effective check and balance.

The government would also increase the commission's workforce to 5,000 officers over a period of five years, he said when launching the first Asean Integrity Dialogue 2008, here.

He said the government would also "introduce legislation to provide a comprehensive protection for whistle blowers and witnesess" in corruption cases.

The government would also take immediate steps to improve the public procurement process through measures targeted at addressing specific problems in the system, he added.

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