Support For ACA As Independent Body - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- Various quarters Sunday welcomed the proposal for the Anti-Corruption Agency to become an independent body, to show the government's credibility in trying to eradicate corruption and abuse of power.

Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam, for instance, said Malaysians had been waiting for this as they wanted change in the ACA.

"The public will be more daring to lodge complaints on corrupt practices as there will be no interference from other parties. This will also benefit those who are victims of power abuse," he told Bernama here Sunday.

Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had received the proposal paper from the ACA for the agency to be an independent body.

Abdullah said the proposal would be carefully studied before a decision could be made.

Malaysian Bar Council vice-president Ragunath Kesavan also expressed his support for the proposal.

"This is a good move in efforts to restore the image of the country's judiciary and legal system, besides bringing about transparency of the parties involved," he said.

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