SHAH ALAM: The #RasuahBusters movement, which has the support of over 400 groups, have unveiled six anti-corruption demands to the government and politicians in the country.

       The movement's core team head, Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub, said the demands were part of a long-overdue transformation to weed out corruption in the country.

       "We want to reignite the call for awareness and rejection of corruption practices that have been plaguing our country for decades.

       "We are trying to save our country from corruption that only make the people poorer and cause instability in our country if inaction continues," he said at the Karangkraf Media Group headquarters here on Saturday (Sept 11).

       The six demands are the implementation and full support of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP); to accelerate the tabling and implementation of Political Funding law; to ensure institutional freedom and independence of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC); to introduce a recall law to deal with party-hopping among elected representatives, implement and empower Undi18; and conduct Parliamentary reform.

       Hussamuddin, who is Karangkraf chairman, noted that politicians are the first to be scrutinised because they are the decision-makers and policymakers.

       "The #RasuahBusters will act as the eyes and ears for the people and as a pressure group to ensure they deliver," he said, adding that children should also be taught about the severe consequences of corruption from young.

       Explaining the six demands, Centre to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel said the NACP must be taken seriously after the change of three governments in under three years since 2018.

       "Leaders need to realise they are being watched and that we have no tolerance for corruption," she said.

       Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) chief operating officer Tricia Yeoh said the recent court cases of politicians over party funding showed that the political financing system needs an immediate and urgent overhaul.

       "Currently, political financing is not regulated. As long as it is so, there will continue to be a lack of clarity as to what's allowed and otherwise."

       Transparency International Malaysia president Dr Muhammad Mohan said institutional reform is necessary to elevate the MACC and AGC to a constitutional body.

       He said the MACC should be under the Federal Constitution and answerable to the Parliament, where its chief commissioner's appointment is also by Parliament and have a fixed tenure.

       He also called for the separate roles of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor, where the Public Prosecutor has to be also appointed by Parliament with a fixed tenure.

       "So, when there's a change in government or the prime minister, their tenures cannot be simply ended to anyone's favour.

       "This will put the MACC and AGC in a strong position to perform its tasks independently, without fear or favour and without any interference from the power and influence of the Executive," he said.

       Bersih 2.0 chairman Thomas Fann said the practice of party hopping among elected representatives would go on in the absence of a recall law to address detractors.

       He said the law would allow voters in a constituency who were dissatisfied with their respective elected representatives to withdraw their mandate.

       "The thresholds to trigger the process and for a recall can be adjusted to prevent abuse. The law is to return the mandate to the local constituents," he said, adding that such a law empowers the voters at all times and not just once every five years.

       Undi18 movement leader Tharma Pillai said the movement would keep pushing for the amendments of the Constitution to allow 18-year-olds to vote in the next general election by the end of this year, instead of waiting until they turn 21.

       Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia chairman Badlishah Sham Baharin said Parliament, where people's voices are brought forward and heard, must be upheld as a corruption-free institution.

       He called for the revival of the Parliament Services Bill, which was abolished in 1992, to give a greater check-and-balance role to the august House.

       He also called for the Parliament Select Committee to include more Opposition leaders to provide counterbalancing influences, especially in the appointment of roles in government-linked companies.

       #RasuahBusters, a movement that started in January, is aimed at uniting the civil society against corruption while promoting good governance.

       Bearing the slogan "Malaysia Without Corruption", the coalition aims to save the country from a "moral pandemic" that could cripple the nation if inaction continues.

       Malaysians can start their own Rasuah Buster movement by registering at bit.ly/3ctmxSy.

       They can also follow updates, get information and materials from www.rasuahbusters.com or through Rasuah Buster's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

       Interested volunteers can send a WhatsApp message to 019-382 3635 and complaints can be lodged at 019-668 0920.

       Participants can also track their graft busting activities with the group using the hashtag #RasuahBusters.