KUALA LUMPUR: A former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer wants the agency to be placed under its own services commission to ensure its independence, following the sudden transfer of its two senior officers who were critical of police’s raids and questioning of its staff over alleged information leaks of a probe into a state-owned investment firm.

Datuk Abdul Razak Idris, who is president of the Association of Former MACC Officers, said an anti-corruption officers services commission should be set up as soon as possible.

“Currently, any transfer, promotion and appointment are under the purview of the SPA (Public Services Commission),” he said.

“For the agency to have more freedom, we need to be given the power to hire, promote or transfer our staff,” he said, adding that as long as the MACC remains under public service, it will not be independent.

In April, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said the setting up of such a commission would empower it to hire and fire its officers without going through civil service protocols.

This way, the chief commissioner would be appointed independently in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the agreement of the Council of Rulers.

The sudden transfers of MACC special operations division director Datuk Bahri Mohamad Zin and strategic communications director Datuk Rohaizad Yaakob to the Prime Minister’s Department, effective today, sent shockwaves through the anti-graft agency, which was still recovering from police’s action on its staff.

Seven MACC officers have been questioned by police and the agency’s special operations division raided as part of the police probe into alleged leaks of information on 1Malaysia Development Bhd. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in digitaledge Daily, on August 10, 2015.