Azam's retirement as MACC chief must spark reforms - C4 Center

 

Talk of Azam Baki’s retirement as head of the anti-graft commission should spark renewed efforts to reform how the post is filled, said corruption watchdog Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center).

The group said criticism of Azam goes beyond his continuous re-appointments as MACC chief commissioner, adding that the manner in which the post is filled is structurally flawed.

“The Anwar administration should not misread public outcry on Azam’s continuous reappointments as being limited to his tenure alone. Even if a new person is appointed to the role, the flaws in the system remain.

“The government must commit to developing and implementing structural MACC reforms quickly and in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

“(This includes the) appointment and removal of the MACC chief commissioner through open calls for candidates and a parliamentary selection process, such as a parliamentary select committee,” C4 Center said in a statement.

Recently, Azam (above) hinted that his contract will likely not be renewed at the end of his third tenure in May 2026.

Critics such as former minister Rafizi Ramli said Azam’s reappointment as MACC chief by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had sullied the government’s reformist agenda.

Rafizi Ramli

Currently, the selection and appointment of the MACC chief commissioner is centralised in the hands of a single individual – the prime minister, C4 Center said.

It insisted the process should be democratised and made more transparent by getting Parliament involved, where the law-making body can collectively choose and vote in candidates either directly or through a select committee.

“(This) would mitigate potential conflicts of interest in the selection process … (and) would reduce the possibility of candidates being selected on the basis of political interests”.

Creating an ombudsman office

At the same time, it said the creation of a new ombudsman office to look into public complaints of maladministration in ministries, agencies, and related entities should be in tandem with reforms to the MACC.

“The ombudsman’s statutory jurisdiction must be extended to cover cases of maladministration within the MACC and other enforcement bodies,” C4 Center said.

“The Ombudsman Malaysia must be granted the mandate to exercise external oversight of the MACC for misconduct and maladministration issues, notwithstanding the MACC’s existing internal oversight mechanisms”.

The Madani government has said that a bill to set up the ombudsman office is expected to be tabled early next year. -Mkini