Latest news with #G25
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
C4, G25 renew calls for procurement law after latest audit report
The 2025 Auditor-General's Report Series 2 identified serious problems in how over RM460mil of public money was spent on land deals, university tenders and defence contracts between 2020 and 2024. PETALING JAYA : Two independent reform advocates have renewed calls for a legally binding government procurement law, saying it is essential to strengthen transparency, accountability and governance in public spending. In separate statements to FMT, the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) and G25, a group of retired senior civil servants, said the current framework — based largely on non-binding Treasury circulars — lacks the legal force needed to curb abuse and wastage. C4 CEO Pushpan Murugiah said the proposed government procurement law should mandate minimum disclosure standards for tenders, project details and eligibility criteria. 'This is to ensure that such contracts entered into are never fully obscured from public scrutiny,' he told FMT. Pushpan Murugiah. He said the law must also include accountability mechanisms at every stage of a project's lifecycle to ensure that public funds are used effectively. Pushpan also said such a law would allow legal action to be taken against ministries or agencies that fail to comply with procurement rules. He added that while deterrence is important, punitive measures like imprisonment should not be applied indiscriminately without addressing root causes such as coercion or systemic pressures faced by officers. The 2025 Auditor-General's Report Series 2 released on Monday found serious problems in how over RM460 million of public money was spent on land deals, university tenders, and defence contracts between 2020 and 2024. G25 said the repeated issues raised by the latest report reflected systemic governance failures, including poor planning and disregard for financial procedures. 'The proposed law should regulate direct negotiations, unify procurement processes across ministries and statutory bodies, and follow international best practices such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law,' the group said. The group also called for stronger enforcement of the Financial Procedure Act 1957 and Treasury Instructions, and urged mandatory training for public servants in procurement and financial governance. It stressed that civil servants must never carry out instructions that violate the law, even if directed by superiors. It also called for deterrent reforms, including criminal liability for senior officials, whistleblower protection, and full autonomy for oversight agencies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the auditor-general's office. G25 urged the declassification of government contracts currently protected under the Official Secrets Act 1972, saying public access would help reduce corruption, cronyism, and unnecessary spending. A government procurement bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament this year.
Malay Mail
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Statement on top judicial appointments and the urgent need for reform — G25
JULY 11 — We, G25, express serious concern over the non-extension of the tenure of service of the former Chief Justice, Tun Tengku Maimun bin Tuan Mat, and the tenure of service of the former President of the Court of Appeal, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Iskandar bin Abang Hashim. Whilst we acknowledge that the constitutional six-month extensions are not as of right but at the discretion of the Government, what is disquieting is that the same six-month extensions have been given very recently to four other Federal Court Judges. Why were similar extensions denied to Tun Tengku Maimun and Tan Sri Abang Iskandar when it cannot be denied that both were exemplary top Judges known for their excellence, landmark judgments, and integrity? Make no mistake, G25 is not asking that they be given special treatment. But we just ask: why were they being sidelined? We also express serious concern over the delay in appointing a new Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal, following the retirements of Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat as Chief Justice on 2 July 2025, and of Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Iskandar bin Abang Hashim as President of the Court of Appeal on July 3, 2025. While acting appointments have been made to ensure administrative continuity, leaving the apex court without permanent leadership creates an unacceptable vulnerability and sends troubling signals about the state of institutional governance in Malaysia. In addition, given that the retirement dates were clearly known in advance, and, indeed, names of candidates for the posts had been duly submitted to the Prime Minister by the JAC quite some time ago, the lack of timely action is difficult to justify and reflects poorly on the level of preparedness for such an important institutional transition. The continued silence from the Government regarding this has only intensified public speculation about possible political interference. The Palace of Justice, which houses Malaysia's Court of Appeal and Federal Court, is seen in Putrajaya March 18, 2024. — Picture by Choo Choy May. G25 has consistently advocated for judicial independence as a cornerstone of good governance. We believe this independence can only be guaranteed if the appointment and promotion of judges are overseen by a body independent of executive influence. The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), introduced in 2009 via the JAC Act, was meant to serve this role. Whilst it did improve public perception of judicial integrity at the time, concerns have persisted over the years. This is in part due to the fact that the Prime Minister has the discretion to appoint five out of the JAC's nine members. This goes against the principle of the independence of the Judiciary. We, in G25, advocate that in order to adhere to the principle of the independence of the Judiciary, the Prime Minister should cease to have any part in the appointments process of superior court judges. Recommendations from the JAC should be submitted directly to Yang di-Pertuan Agong after consultation with the Conference of Rulers, and His Majesty shall act on the recommendations of the JAC. As such, urgent reform of the JAC structure is essential. Its members should be appointed independently by an Independent Committee, its composition expanded to reflect a wider range of perspectives, and its deliberations made more transparent, such as by publishing meeting summaries to dispel suspicion over delays or decisions made behind closed doors. These steps will go far to strengthen public trust and judicial impartiality. We, G25, appeal to the Conference of Rulers, as guardian of our Constitution and justice, to call for the immediate reform of the JAC and of the process of appointment of superior court judges. We call on the Government to reform the JAC according to the Conference of Rulers' proposal during their 260th Conference which was held on 30 November 2022 (New Straits Times, 30 November 2022) and implement the recommendation that JAC members should no longer be appointed by the Prime Minister. In upholding the Rukun Negara principles of Supremacy of the Constitution and Rule of Law, it is pivotal to ensure that judicial appointments reflect the highest standards of merit, professionalism, and independence, free from political influence. The judiciary, as one of the three branches of democratic governance, must remain independent from the legislative and executive arms. This independence is essential to protect the rights of the people, and to ensure that the actions of the Cabinet or Parliament do not stray from constitutional boundaries. Alongside structural reform, there must also be unwavering commitment to integrity and accountability within the judiciary itself. Allegations of judicial misconduct, especially those suggesting external interference, must not be dismissed before investigations are conducted. These kinds of allegations show there are serious problems in the system that need to be redressed openly and without delay. G25 supports independent investigations, including through Royal Commissions of Inquiry where appropriate, with full disclosure of findings for the sake of transparency and trust. Malaysia's reputation as a democratic state governed by the Rule of Law depends on the strength and independence of its judiciary. Delays in key judicial appointments, coupled with structural weaknesses, risk damaging our standing in the eyes of the global community. Investors, diplomatic partners, and international human rights observers closely monitor the state of judicial governance in our country as a benchmark for institutional stability and accountability. To maintain confidence in our legal system, Malaysia must demonstrate transparency, consistency, and a commitment to judicial integrity. We, G25, call on the Government to also uphold the core Madani principles that it advocates, particularly, those centred around trust which includes good governance, transparency, and integrity. If the Government is sincere in its pledge to uphold its Madani principles of governance, then this must be clearly demonstrated through action, not just rhetoric. Ensuring a swift and transparent appointment of top judicial positions, alongside meaningful reforms to protect judicial independence and accountability, will serve as a true measure of the Government's commitment to those ideals. The credibility of Malaysia's governance and reform agenda will ultimately be measured by how consistently these principles are earnestly applied, especially in matters as fundamental as the administration of justice. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Free Malaysia Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops, immigration owe Fahmi Reza an apology, says G25
On Saturday, Fahmi Reza was told he could not leave the country, when he went to KLIA Terminal 2 to take a flight to Singapore. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The immigration department and Bukit Aman owe graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza an apology after he was barred from travelling abroad last Saturday, says G25. In a statement today, the group comprising prominent retired civil servants said despite the police's claim that no travel ban had been imposed on Fahmi, the fact remains that he was still denied permission to leave the country. G25 also questioned if there would be some accountability from the authorities after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had called for the deputy inspector-general of police to conduct a full review of Fahmi's travel restrictions, and for the police to clarify the matter further. 'Despite the inspector-general of police admitting there was no actual travel restriction and blaming the incident on 'confusion', neither the police nor the immigration department has apologised or taken responsibility. 'We believe that at the very least, Fahmi is owed a public apology by those responsible,' he said. On Saturday, Fahmi was stopped at KLIA Terminal 2 while trying to board a flight to Singapore to attend a concert. He said an immigration officer allegedly told him the police had denied him clearance to travel overseas and asked him to check with Bukit Aman for further clarification. Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain later said the police did not issue a travel ban against Fahmi and the incident was the result of a 'misunderstanding'. Anwar then said he had instructed the police to investigate the matter, and the government supports individual freedom as long as national security and laws are not compromised. G25 noted the latest incident came just nine days after Fahmi was barred from entering Sabah on May 29. 'These repeated restrictions reflect not only an erosion of due process and a growing pattern of arbitrary infringement on constitutionally protected rights, but also risk diminishing Malaysia's standing in the eyes of the international community. 'When such incidents occur with increasing frequency, they become more than isolated lapses. They signal systemic issues that are both concerning and, frankly, embarrassing on the global stage,' the group said.
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Addiction to money a bigger problem than religion, says Zaid
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said the suggestion of G25 member Johan Ariffin for a decoupling of religion from politics is too impractical to implement. PETALING JAYA : Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim today responded to remarks on corruption and religion by a member of the G25 group of prominent retired civil servants, saying the main problem in Malaysia is a general 'addiction' to money. Johan Ariffin had called for a decoupling of religion from politics, arguing that religiosity had proven to be an insufficient deterrent against corruption. In a post on X today, Zaid said that while Johan might be right, his suggestion was too impractical to implement. 'Religion, with proper application, can make us a better country. Our problem is not (mainly) religion; it is that politicians and our elites are addicted to money. 'We have entrusted our ruling class with curbing corruption, but they will not do that because they also like a lot of money,' he said. Earlier today, FMT reported Johan as saying that Malay leaders often projected a keen sense of religiosity, but consistently scored low on clean governance measures. He said these politicians used race and religion to 'shield, justify or deflect wrongdoing'. Johan also said the Malays remained entrenched in a 'feudal mindset, where loyalty to race, religion, and rulers supersedes critical thinking and moral accountability'. However, Zaid said Malaysian politics was about making money, and that its elites 'compete (about) who makes more money from the system'. He said the lack of a genuine political funding law or measures to ensure transparency in procurement showed the elites' disinterest in curbing corruption.
Daily Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Corruption a ‘big problem' despite Malay religiosity, says G25 member
Published on: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: G25 member Johan Ariffin Samad wants the authorities to decouple religion from politics, saying it would help the country's battle against corruption. PETALING JAYA: Religiosity has proven to be an insufficient deterrent against corruption, a member of the G25 group of prominent retired civil servants said, citing a 2020 survey by anti-graft group, Transparency International. According to the survey, 71% of Malaysians felt that government corruption was a 'big problem'. Malaysians, according to the 'Global Corruption Barometer for Asia 2020', viewed Parliament, the police and the government as institutions most likely to be corrupt. G25's Johan Ariffin Samad noted that these institutions are 'overwhelmingly dominated by Malays' who, by definition under the Federal Constitution, must be Muslim. 'Despite outward displays of faith, rampant corruption continues to erode Malaysia's institutions and future. 'This raises a difficult but necessary question: how can a society which prides itself on religious and moral values tolerate such widespread corruption within its own ranks?' he said at a recent event in Penang. Advertisement Johan said the country must 'decouple' religion from politics to help in its war against corruption. Malay leaders, he said, often project a keen sense of religiosity, yet consistently score low on clean governance measures. He added that these politicians would use race and religion, two concepts which are deeply intertwined, to 'shield, justify or deflect wrongdoing'. Malays, on the other hand, remain entrenched 'in a feudal mindset, where loyalty to race, religion, and rulers supersedes critical thinking and moral accountability', said Johan. 'Where does Malay loyalty truly lie? To justice? To religion? To the constitution? Or merely to race, status and symbolism?' Johan said both Sabah and Sarawak have decoupled religion from crime. Recent cases of alleged corruption involving the issuance of mining licences in Sabah, for instance, have been addressed strictly as matters of potential criminal wrongdoing. 'There are no attempts to justify or excuse them on religious grounds.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
