Tubuhkan suruhanjaya siasatan diraja/Set up royal commission to probe MACC conduct – Suhakam

[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) menzahirkan kebimbangan terhadap perkembangan terkini berhubung penubuhan sebuah jawatankuasa khas bagi menyiasat dakwaan melibatkan ketua pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), susulan laporan yang diterbitkan oleh Bloomberg pada 12 Februari.

Suhakam enggan mengulas inti pati dakwaan tersebut namun menegaskan bahawa sekiranya rasuah serta sebarang persepsi tidak ditangani dengan serius dan penuh akauntabiliti, ia akan memberi kesan yang mendalam terhadap pematuhan hak asasi manusia.

Ini menjejaskan prinsip kesamarataan di sisi undang-undang, melemahkan akses kepada keadilan, menjejaskan sumber untuk kepentingan awam, serta memberi kesan yang tidak seimbang kepada golongan rentan dan terpinggir.

Justeru, integriti, kebebasan dan kredibiliti institusi anti-rasuah adalah amat penting bagi melindungi dan merealisasikan hak asasi manusia.

Tidak dinafikan, rasuah kian berleluasa dan memudaratkan. Amat memalukan apabila bekas pemimpin politik peringkat tertinggi turut dihadapkan ke mahkamah, disabitkan kesalahan dan dijatuhi hukuman penjara yang panjang.

Ini hakikat yang menyedihkan dan ia amat membimbangkan Suhakam, selaku badan yang diamanahkan untuk mempromosi dan mempertahankan hak asasi manusia, kerana semakin tinggi tahap rasuah yang berleluasa dalam masyarakat, semakin terjejas hak asasi rakyat.

Dalam usaha memerangi rasuah, adalah amat penting bahawa mereka yang dipertanggungjawabkan untuk membanteras amalan keji ini bukan sahaja bebas daripada sebarang salah laku, malah mesti dilihat benar-benar bersih dan tidak tercemar.

Suhakam maklum mengenai penubuhan jawatankuasa penyiasatan khas tersebut, namun bimbang sekiranya badan tersebut tidak mempunyai kuasa statutori yang jelas serta kuasa penyiasatan yang mencukupi.

Badan yang tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk memanggil saksi hadir, menghendaki pengeluaran dokumen, atau mendapatkan bukti berkaitan, berisiko dinilai sebagai terhad dari segi skop dan keberkesanan.

Dalam isu melibatkan berkepentingan awam, keterbatasan sedemikian boleh menghakis keyakinan orang ramai terhadap proses siasatan serta keputusan yang akan dicapai.

Sehubungan itu, Suhakam menyeru supaya sebuah suruhanjaya siasatan diraja (RCI) ditubuhkan di bawah Akta Suruhanjaya Siasatan 1950, berbanding penubuhan sebuah pasukan petugas yang tidak mempunyai kuasa.

Suruhanjaya diraja mempunyai kuasa untuk memanggil saksi, memeriksa mereka di bawah angkat sumpah, serta memaksa pengeluaran dokumen.

Kuasa-kuasa ini amat penting bagi memastikan pemeriksaan yang menyeluruh, bebas dan telus terhadap semua dakwaan berkaitan.

Skop siasatan juga perlu bersifat menyeluruh. Penyiasatan tidak seharusnya terhad kepada isu tertentu sahaja, sebaliknya mesti merangkumi semua dakwaan serius yang telah diketahui umum, termasuk dakwaan berkaitan pemilikan saham serta laporan dakwaan pakatan sulit.

Pendekatan yang tidak menyeluruh atau bersifat selektif berisiko mewujudkan persepsi berat sebelah dan menjejaskan kredibiliti proses tersebut.

Kebebasan institusi juga merupakan elemen yang sama penting. Komposisi mana-mana badan penyiasatan perlu mengelakkan sebarang konflik kepentingan sama ada secara nyata mahupun dari segi persepsi.

Keyakinan orang ramai bukan sahaja bergantung kepada keadilan proses tersebut, tetapi juga kepada penampilan bahawa proses itu dilaksanakan secara adil. Pemisahan yang jelas antara fungsi penyiasatan dan pendakwaan, serta perlindungan daripada pengaruh tidak wajar, merupakan prinsip asas keadilan.

Dalam hal ini, Suhakam berpandangan bahawa badan penyiasatan yang dicadangkan tidak seharusnya diketuai oleh peguam negara.

Sebaliknya, ia wajar dipimpin oleh seorang mantan ketua hakim negara yang bebas dan dihormati, seperti Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, yang sering diiktiraf atas integriti kehakimannya. – Suhakam

English version

Set up royal commission to probe MACC conduct – Suhakam

The Malaysian human rights commission, Suhakam, expresses its concern over recent developments regarding the establishment of a special committee to investigate allegations involving the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC), following reports published by Bloomberg on 12 February.

Suhakam does not take a position on the substance of the allegations.

Nevertheless, we emphasise that corruption, as well as any perception that it is not addressed with seriousness and accountability, carries profound negative human rights consequences.

It undermines equality before the law, weakens access to justice, diverts public resources away from essential services, and disproportionately affects vulnerable and marginalised communities.

The integrity, independence and credibility of anti- corruption institutions are therefore indispensable to the protection and realisation of human rights.

It cannot be denied that corruption is rampant in this country and is cancerous. Disgracefully, even high-level ex-political leaders have been hauled to court, convicted and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.

The sad truth is that – and this is of great concern to Suhakam, a body entrusted to promote and defend human rights – the higher the level of corruption that prevails in our society, the more it undermines the human rights of the people.

In the battle against corruption, it is imperative that those entrusted to combat this evil practice must not only be beyond any suspicion of wrongdoing but must be perceived to be whiter than white.

While the establishment of a special investigation committee (or task force) is acknowledged, concerns arise where such a body lacks clear statutory authority and necessary investigative powers.

An inquiry that does not have the power to compel the attendance of witnesses, require the production of documents, or otherwise secure relevant evidence risks being viewed as limited in scope and effectiveness.

In matters of significant public interest, these limitations may erode public confidence in both the investigative process and its outcome.

In the light of this, Suhakam calls for the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry under the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950, rather than a task force without coercive powers.

A royal commission is vested with the authority to summon witnesses, examine them under oath, and compel the production of documents. Such powers are essential to ensure a thorough, independent and transparent examination of all relevant allegations.

The scope of the inquiry must also be comprehensive. Investigations should not be confined to a narrow set of issues but should encompass all serious allegations that have entered the public domain, including those relating to alleged share ownership and reported allegations of collusion.

A fragmented or selective approach risks creating perceptions of partiality and undermining the credibility of the process.

Institutional independence is equally critical. The composition of any investigative body must avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

Public confidence depends not only on the fairness of the process but also on its appearance of fairness.

A clear separation between investigative and prosecutorial functions, together with safeguards against undue influence, are fundamental principles of natural justice.

In this respect, Suhakam is of the view that the proposed investigative body should not be chaired by the attorney general. Instead, it should be led by an independent and respected retired senior judge, such as Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who is widely recognised for her judicial integrity.

The membership of the investigative body should also be broadened to include a respected representative from civil society organisations in order to enhance credibility, transparency and public trust in the process. – Suhakam

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