Eight govt agencies to go independent, report directly to Parliament from today (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: In a move to restore checks and balances within the government's administrative structure and management, eight of its agencies began operating independently from today and will report directly to Parliament.
In a letter dated June 26 which was sighted by theSun, the agencies include the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Election Commission (EC), the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), the Public Prosecutor's Office and the National Audit Department.
The overhaul which removes the agencies previously under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department also includes the Public Service Commission, Education Service Commission and the Judicial Appointments Commission.
The letter which was signed by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa also saw 10 departments and agencies including 19 smaller divisions or offices under the Prime Minister's Office scrapped.
The exercise also includes the merging of five agencies and the redesignation of 40.
The country's special envoy on Infrastructure to India and South Asia Tun S. Samy Vellu will have his services terminated after his contract expires on Dec 31 while the post of special envoy to China will also be abolished.
Previously, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting had relinquished his post as the special envoy to China in January.
Socio-Cultural Advisor to the Government Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim also had his services terminated on June 30 following the expiry of his contract.
The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has been abolished and its functions absorbed by the Transport Ministry while the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) functions have been put under the purview of the Home Ministry.
The Permata early childhood development programme will be under the purview of the Education Ministry while TalentCorp will be under the human resource Ministry.
Other agencies which are being abolished include the National Professors Council (MPN), the National Innovation Agency (AIM), the Special Implementation Task Force, Civil Service Delivery Unit (CSDU) and the 2050 National Transformation (TN50) secretariat.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General's Chambers will remain under the Prime Minister's Department but its prosecuting functions have been placed under the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The Legal Aid Department and Insolvency Department will also be merged with the newly formed Law and Judiciary Ministry.
Meanwhile, Transparency-International president Datuk Akhbar Satar who lauded the move said such a revamp can avoid the duplication of duties, reduce wastage and redundancy.
He said those civil servants laid off can be relocated to new departments and given new tasks.
He said with Malaysia falling from 55 to 62 in last year's coruption perceptions index (CPI), the worst ever, good strategies to fight graft and improve the rating should be initiated.
Akhbar said according to a report by the Association of Cerified Fraud Examiners, 5% of an organisations revenue is lost to fraud and corruption.
He said it is a good move placing the MACC and EC under the Parliament, but both agencies should be autonomous in their financial or budget management and not just their administration.
Akhbar added that the decision on the appointment of the Attorney-General should never be made by the Prime Minister as it can be subject to abuse when the premier becomes the subject of an investigation.