ROS directive fuels suspicion of govt interference, says Cenbet

PETALING JAYA: Government agencies such as the Registrar of Societies (RoS) are advised to draw up and stick to standard operating procedures (SOP) on administrative decisions to avoid being accused of being a tool of the ruling government, said The Centre For A Better Tomorrow (Cenbet).
Commenting on the RoS' latest directive for the DAP to hold fresh polls for the party's central executive committee (CEC), Cenbet's board of governor Datuk Simon Lim Seng Chai said the directive has only fuelled public suspicion of government interference.
"The public is understandably puzzled why the RoS took more than three years before asking the party to hold re-election.
"The timing could not have been worse as the Prime Minister's press aide had just days earlier revisited the old issue of the party's disputed 2012 and 2013 internal polls and questioned the legitimacy of the its central leadership.
"This was followed by the Deputy Prime Minister's meeting with the RoS on this matter. All these only lend credence to the narrative about political meddling," he said in a statement, today.
Simon said the RoS and all other government agencies should not only be independent and professional in carrying out their duties, but must be seen to be so.
"It is imperative that they (RoS) draw up a clients' charter and SOP, especially on politically-sensitive decisions, if they have not already. And these must be adhered to in the strictest possible terms," he said.
For example, Simon opined that the RoS should spell out the maximum processing time after receiving complaints from aggrieved members of political parties.
"Bureaucrats should also make decisions independent of input from members of the administration, even if they were just in consultations."
He added by adhering to a proper and transparent SOP and clients' charter, it can help dispel the perception that agencies like the RoS are under the thumbs of ruling government.
"When these are in place, agencies cannot be accused of dragging their feet for political motives. It also helps enhance transparency and good governance – values which Cenbet promotes.'
On Friday, RoS director-general Datuk Mohammad Razin Abdullah said the appointment of CEC members and those who held key positions in DAP via its re-election on Sep 29, 2013 was deemed unlawful.
The re-election should be based on the list of delegates entitled to attend and vote in the CEC election on Dec 15, 2012 which involved 2,576 delegates from 865 branches.
This is because only valid and recognised CEC members can appoint individuals to the main positions, in accordance with the Societies Act 1966 and DAP's constitution.