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PETALING JAYA: The government is studying the need to establish a special investigative body to receive and probe complaints of abuse of power among top public officials.

Putrajaya is committed to establishing a “truly independent” body that has effective disciplinary powers to improve the integrity of enforcement officers and agencies, said law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said.

At present, cases of abuse of power may be investigated by several government bodies. Among them are the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission, the Independent Police Conduct Commission, the integrity unit of every government agency, and the Public Complaints Bureau.

In a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat to Gobind Singh Deo (PH-Damansara), Azalina said discussions would be held with government and opposition MPs as well as civil society organisations.

A consultation session had been held on May 2 attended by EAIC chairman Sidek Hassan, Solicitor-General Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh, and representatives of the legal affairs division, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, MACC, the public services department and the prime minister’s department.