14 theSun | THURSDAY DECEMBER 4 2008

INTERVIEWS VIEWS Conversation

SAIFUL HIZAM MANSOR/THESUN

Man on a mission
PRIME MINISTER DATUK SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI
IS FOCUSED ON REFORMS AS PART AND PARCEL OF
HIS EXIT PLAN. HE SPEAKS TO R. NADESWARAN AND
TERENCE FERNANDEZ ON THE CHANGES HE ASPIRES
TO ACHIEVE BEFORE HE LEAVES IN MARCH, AS WELL AS
THE OBSTACLES IN HIS PATH, AND HOPES MALAYSIANS
CAN SET THEIR DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND THINK ABOUT
WHAT’S BEST FOR THE NATION.
theSun: Datuk Seri, you have cer- into having a civil service with everyone is tainted with some kind you will see a different kind of independently?
tain unfinished business which integrity? of perception of being involved in ACA. One with clout and one that Firstly, I would not call it ‘opposition’, but
you are trying to settle before you There are two ways to fight corrup- corruption. responds and is answerable to the differing opinions. This entity is very
leave office in March. Please tell tion – curative and preventive. If But I assure you that as soon rakyat. important to many stakeholders and as
us what your priorities are. you just concentrate on curative, as the MACC (Malaysian Anti- such, all groups have their opinions on what
Abdullah: I’ll come straight to the every time you get rid of one per- Corruption Commission) Bill is Anyone who opposes the Bill would be the best composition for the Com-
point. I want to focus on key reforms. son, another fellow will come in. tabled in Parliament, (the first would have something to hide mission. My task is to come to a workable
I admit that these are reforms which There will be no end. So you must reading is on Dec 10) I will see – especially, if those opposed are compromise, after much listening and
I should have done a long time ago; concentrate on preventive. Preven- Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed from the ruling coalition. discussion with all major groups.
but what to do? That’s a long story tive must go on as then it will deal (ACA deputy director-general) or Well, I suppose that would be the All groups come with certain as-
… anyway, here’s what I want to with the curative aspect. You talk Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan public perception. sumptions about what will work, based
deal with – corruption, judicial about corruption, it is corrosive, (ACA director-general) (who have on their research as well as their bi-
appointments commission and the and it will affect our competitive- been tasked with drafting the Bill). What about the judicial ases. This is normal – all groups have
special complaints commission (on ness, affect people’s belief in us and They are good men! Very honest. reforms? certain pre-conceptions but we all meet
enforcement agencies). These are also affect people’s support for us. Both of them have promised that Judicial appointments are halfway when we discuss and see that the
the three important areas which If they don’t support us because they will deliver and they have equally important. People must Commission will meet its core function,
I want to focus on because if we they believe we have no integ- delivered. believe that the judiciary is a which is to propose the best names for judi-
don’t address them, this nation will rity, and corruption is rife, semua Of course, Parliament is where judiciary of integrity. If people have cial appointments based on clear criteria.
be in trouble. habis! it will be reviewed and discussed, confidence in the judiciary then The JAC’s independence will be seen
so I hope everyone will look we won’t have to worry as we have from the conduct of its members. In terms
Let’s start with corruption. But corruption is so widespread. beyond partisan lines and vote for someone who will look after our of procedure, there will be no interference
This has to do with integrity. One How are you going to tackle what is best for the rakyat. rights, someone who will defend from the Executive in the nominations of
of the programmes I had initiated something that has been fester- us, someone we can appeal to. the judicial candidates. The members of the
was the National Integrity Institute. ing for years in the three-four We don’t think you should And in my plan I want to Commission will meet among themselves
This is one initiative, where you try months that you have left? worry about this. How would establish a panel that will be and decide on names based on secret ballot
to imbue quality and the credibility It is not easy, I know. Some would Lim Kit Siang, Hadi Awang and responsible for the appointment voting. In fact, we need to safeguard against
in the individual civil servant. say almost impossible. Corruption Anwar Ibrahim explain to their of judges. That’s why these interference or inappropriate pressure
is not confined to the government constituents that they had failed three are important as they are from all parties, not just the Executive.
But how does this translate service, even the private sector … or refused to support something interlinked – judiciary, ACA But I think this will be limited because
that is good for the rakyat? and complaints commission there is a clear merit-based criteria as well
This is why I want all of us – from These pillars are very, very as the character of the members of the
both sides of the divide – to think important. Commission.
about what’s in the best interest
of the people. Just because you There was opposition to the But how does one explain the choice of
are Opposition you vote against composition of the Judicial Tan Sri Zaki Azmi as chief justice? You
the Bill, this is not the way. But I Appointments Commission have a former Umno legal adviser who
am confident that everyone, my (JAC). How did you manage leaped-frogged to the highest judicial
Barisan Nasional friends and my to meet halfway with critics; position in the country.
Opposition friends included, will and what guarantees are there Yes, but he was Umno legal adviser long
support it. This is going to change that the JAC will perform the before he was appointed (to the Bench).
how the ACA works. Mind you, functions they are set out to do Anyone can engage him as a lawyer, but
I know him as a
If people man of integrity. He
have doesn’t mess up his
confidence in the work and has done
a good job, so if he is
judiciary then we assigned to another
won’t have to job, I know he will
worry as we have do it right.
someone who He has already
will look after our said that he won’t
have anything to do
rights, someone with Umno. And he
who will defend is ordering a lot of
us, someone we changes. He is a good
can appeal to.” man who provides
leadership.

Was he your only choice?

Of course, I had a few people in my mind. I
won’t discuss this of course, but he was the
best candidate. The critics will make noise if
he rules against them. But if he rules in their fa-
vour, he is a good judge, right? But anyway, the
judicial appointments committee will go
through the names and see who will be on
the Bench, and as long as we have good
people on the panel, we will have good
people on the Bench.

Datuk Seri when you speak of the reforms

to these three pillars of justice, you must
also address the public’s perception of the
Attorney General (A-G)’s Chambers. As it
stands, the A-G’s Chambers is viewed as
the government’s legal adviser, so when
it comes to cases that involve politicians
and government personalities, there is the
perception that the A-G is biased.
These concerns will be addressed through
the reforms to the judiciary and the ACA that