KUALA LUMPUR (June 19): The Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC), comprising legal experts and retired judges, has set a July 15 deadline to submit the final leg of the interim report to reform, strengthen and restore confidence in key government institutions such as the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, election commission, attorney-general chambers, parliament and the auditor-general's office.

"The reform that we are looking at will strengthen the government institutions. Some of the measures could have various implications to the country's economic position and investment climate," IRC member Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan told reporters here today.

She added that the final report, which is the fourth since the IRC was set up on May 15, will be submitted to the five-man Council of Eminent Persons and will contain measures to weed out corruption in key government institutions.

For now, Ambiga said the IRC has yet to consider the abolishment of government institutions as one of the reform measures.

"Ultimately, we want to have zero tolerance to corruption and create strong government institutions that will serve the needs of the people with integrity," she added.

As for the measures to reform law enforcement agencies, Ambiga said the IRC is studying the options of establishing either an independent police commission, or revamping the current government agencies such as the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission.

Another IRC member Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi said the committee will be recommending various measures to reform the Parliament, such as granting the august house an oversight power to appoint key government positions.

"Parliament reforms will include proper procedures and vetting system to key government personnel. We want people with unimpeachable integrity, vision and strong character to lead government institutions," he added.

In the future, Shad hinted that appointment to key positions in the government may go through a parliamentary confirmation process, which is similar to the practices in countries such as Australia, the US, Europe and the UK.

Shad also said the auditor-general should be granted with a wider power to review and investigate institutions that either receive or spend monies from the government.

"There should be no public institutions that should be exempted from the purview of the auditor-general," he added.