PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA December 8, 2025 – The MADANI Government today took a historic step by approving the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia as the central agency to handle and resolve public complaints, in line with efforts to strengthen the integrity of public administration and civil service in the country.
The announcement was made following the 8th Special Cabinet Committee on National Governance (JKKTN) meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim this morning. In his official statement, the Prime Minister said the meeting reached several key agreements on policy and legislative reforms aimed at enhancing effectiveness and upholding integrity in the public sector.
Ombudsman Malaysia will be given a more comprehensive mandate, covering maladministration, misconduct, whistleblower protection, and freedom of information. The establishment of this agency reaffirms the MADANI Government’s commitment to strengthening citizens’ rights while ensuring public complaints are resolved fairly and transparently. The Ombudsman Malaysia Bill is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament in early 2026, promising a more efficient and citizen-friendly complaint resolution mechanism.
In addition, the meeting emphasised improving corporate compliance for companies managing public funds. This includes proposals for new legislation to streamline State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and subsidiaries of statutory bodies, ensuring their social mandates are carried out in accordance with high standards of governance and a more structured legal framework.
“In an era where public and investor confidence is a vital asset, these reforms represent a holistic effort to strengthen institutions, policies, and laws,” said Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his statement. He added that all these agreements reflect the MADANI Government’s firm commitment to driving institutional reforms to boost confidence in the transparency of national administration and the quality of public services.
Supporters of the reforms have praised the move as a positive sign of improved governance in Malaysia, especially after various issues of public fund mismanagement raised in previous years. However, legal experts advise that effective implementation will require sufficient resources and independent oversight mechanisms.
With the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia, public complaints are expected to be resolved more quickly, thereby improving ordinary citizens’ access to government services. The government is expected to hold public consultations on the bill before its tabling to ensure the people’s voices are heard.
