Kuala lumpur: The engagement process on the proposal to expand the jurisdiction of Ombudsman Malaysia to the state level, which was supposed to be completed last July, has been delayed due to objections from several state governments.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said stated that the objections arose because some states already have their own ombudsman, while others are in the process of setting up such a body. She noted that there are states that do not want any involvement at all, even in terms of monitoring agencies at their level.

Azalina was responding to a supplementary question from Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) during Ministers’ Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat. Johan inquired whether Ombudsman Malaysia would handle matters outside the jurisdiction of the federal government.

The minister highlighted that the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia aims to strengthen good governance, improve accountability in public services, and provide a more effective complaints channel. However, she clarified that the proposal will currently cover only federal agencies, with the possibility of expanding to state-level agencies being contingent on the agreement of state governments.