Autonomous MACC but will Bar Council detach from politics?

I am all for an independent MACC (Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission). They can perform better without having to worry about 'political hands'.

And for the first time, I agree with Bar Council president Christopher Leong that as long as the MACC bosses and staffs are being paid by the government, they still will have to 'listen' to the voice upstairs.

But who will pay the MACC if its an independent body? The Bar Council? I was told their salary is 'above average' as compared to government servants of similar categories, and the Constitution needs amendment to let the MACC operates on its own.

Personally, I would like to ask Leong a simple question: Since he supports an independent MACC, what about the Bar Council...can it be free from politics?

The Cabinet has agreed in principle to amend the Federal Constitution to allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to hire and fire its own staff and commissioners, a step which could bolster the body’s fight against graft, a forum heard last night.
Bar Council president Christopher Leong said the agreement was conveyed to the council by Minister Datuk Paul Low in a December meeting last year to discuss proposals that could increase the body’s independence and effectiveness.
The proposals were crafted by the Bar Council together with the MACC.
Input was also given by other groups such as the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism and Transparency International Malaysia.
However, MACC has not shown the Bar Council the final draft of the proposed amendments to be tabled in Parliament.

The proposals, however, do not include giving MACC the power to prosecute its own cases, an oft-repeated demand by legislators and some civil society groups.

Instead, the Bar Council said the power to take cases to court should be carried out by a new public prosecutor’s office.

“Paul Low has said that the Cabinet agrees, in principle, to the proposal to amend the constitution,” Leong said at a Bar Council talk in Kuala Lumpur last night.

It is learnt that Putrajaya wants to table the amendments this year, but not in the upcoming March meeting.
Leong said the proposals would see the creation of an Anti-Corruption Service Commission (ACSC) under the constitution such as the Armed Services Commission and the Judicial Appointments Commission.
Under the plan, ACSC would act as an oversight body to decide on policy and direction for MACC, which in turn would be responsible for field work and investigations.
ACSC would essentially take over the five bodies currently supervising MACC. Its actions would also be scrutinised by Parliament.