KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for the 47 graft charges involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds strengthens the need for fundamental reforms, says Wong Chen.
The Subang MP said the bottom line is to ensure laws are passed in Parliament allowing independent bodies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Attorney General (AG) to function without political influence.
"In particular, the Attorney General and Solicitor General's offices need to be separated, with the AG functioning as chief advisor to the government on commercial, civil and international trade matters; whereas the Solicitor General runs an independent public prosecution body, accountable only to Parliament," he said in a series of posts on social media platform X on Tuesday (Sept 5).
As for the MACC, Wong said senior appointments must be vetted by and all its activities made accountable to Parliament.
"These two reforms are fundamental. We need to get moving fast... and pass the necessary laws within the next 12 months.
"As a government MP, I will continue to... push harder for my government to make good these reforms.
"When these laws are in place, then perhaps we will see the start of the end of undue influence of politics in anti-corruption matters," he added.
His comments followed the granting of the DNAA to Ahmad Zahid by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday (Sept 4).
