Dompok probably does the right thing by resigning as chairman of the Parliamentary Select Community on Integrity after failing to get the National Registration Department's officials to answer some of the pertinent issues regarding illegal immigrant problems in Sabah. Dompok has been quoted as saying that it is better for him to resign than sitting at the committee without doing something constructive. Calls have been pouring in for him to reverse his decision--the lastest from the President of the Transparency International (Malaysia) and President of the Malaysian Council of Churches.
It is not immediately known why Dompok has suddenly resigned from the committee. But newspaper reports have shown that he is arguably at loggerheads with the de-facto law minister, Nazri Aziz, who questioned the committee wanting to quiz the NRD officials. Nazri said it was not the committee's functions to call on individuals to testify before it as its main role is to obtain feedback and make recommendation to the government on issues related to integrity.
If the government is serious in tackling ineffectiveness in the civil service and to ensure Malaysia is free from corrupt practices, it should ensure that the committee be given the approriate powers and clear jurisdictions. The grey areas between the related government agencies' roles with that of the committee must be tackled to ensure there is no overlapping and redundancy in tasks assigned to them.
The prime minister must either appeal Dompok to stay or find another credible person to head the committee. He also must make sure that the committee's credibility be restored and its presence respected by all levels of society. Abdullah has introduced a number of committees and commissions since taking over the premiership from Mahathir and it is a high time for him so show that his efforts are translated into constructive actions for the betterment of the nation as a whole.
