PPBM Youth leader Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said they planned to do this by empowering the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) with independence and the powers to prosecute, among other things.
“We will form an autonomous special committee that is free from any interference.
“This committee must be formed under the Federal Constitution’s special provisions and will be the one to appoint as well as remove MACC’s chief commissioner.
“It will report directly to the Dewan Rakyat,” Syed told a press conference here today, as he unveiled PH Youth’s strategies to combat corruption.
Besides the formation of the committee, Syed Saddiq listed seven other strategies that will also affect retired civil servants and politicians.
The MACC, he said, will be given further powers to investigate retirees who were found to have lived beyond their means either when they were still in service, or after their retirement.
Syed Saddiq however, noted that some may question if a PH government would actually carry out these strategies, as even its chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been questioned for his wealth and that of his children’s.
“Some will say PPBM, in particular, will face the strongest resistance in implementing this because there are ex-Umno members who are relatively rich, who entered the party (PPBM).
“But Mahathir and Mukhriz (Mahathir) have regularly visited the MACC themselves to show they have a legitimate source of income.
“And If we are in power but 80% of these strategies are not passed, then I’ll be the first person to step down.”
Another agenda in the PH’s corruption battle plan is broadening the definition of bribe to include gifts that are not in the monetary form.
This, according to Syed Saddiq, would see the end of the current government’s practice of handing out election goodies.
He also promised to make the media free from political control so that the role of the fourth estate in ensuring good governance will never come under any threat.
Also present at the press conference this morning were DAP Youth chief Wong Kah Woh, PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Amanah Youth chief Mohd Sany Hamzan.