Integrity and accountability at stake

 

YOURSAY | “Do the right thing, Azam Baki, if you are truly here to fight corruption.”

Azam has shares exceeding civil service limits again, PM urged to act

Farhash denies business with Azam as Rafizi tries to draw link

Set up oversight body to scrutinise MACC - Nurul Izzah

PinkMarlin6024: It is indeed a profoundly sad and troubling day for an institution entrusted with the sacred duty of combating corruption.

An agency such as the MACC stands as a symbol of integrity, accountability, and public trust. Its credibility is not merely an institutional asset - it is the very foundation upon which its authority rests.

Whether the allegations are ultimately proven or not, even the mere suggestion that the head of the MACC may have held shares beyond the limits prescribed by civil service regulations is deeply concerning.

In matters involving the leadership of a corruption-busting body, perception is as critical as proof.

The public must have unwavering confidence that those who enforce ethical standards are themselves beyond reproach.

This is not about rushing to judgment, but about upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability. Immediate, independent, and credible action is necessary to clarify the facts and restore confidence.

Silence, delay, or half-measures will only erode public trust further. Institutions tasked with fighting corruption must be seen to operate above even the faintest shadow of impropriety.

There can be no compromise when it comes to integrity at the highest levels.

The MACC’s moral authority depends not only on enforcing the law, but on embodying the principles it seeks to uphold.

At stake is more than one individual’s reputation - it is the credibility of the institution and the public’s faith in the rule of law.

Swift and decisive steps to ensure transparency and accountability are essential to safeguard that trust.

VoteOfOne: This erosion of confidence is not new. Malaysia has long been caught in a cycle of tit-for-tat responses rather than systemic reform.

While not strictly required by law, most US presidents since the 1970s have voluntarily placed their business investments into a blind trust or sold them upon taking office to avoid conflicts of interest.

This practice hands control of assets to an independent trustee, ensuring that personal finances do not influence official decisions.

Although voluntary, such practices signal seriousness about integrity. Malaysia could consider a hybrid version of this approach, applicable to those heading ministerial positions, government administrations, and public agencies.

However, this would first require mandatory declarations of assets and investments before assuming office - a foundational step that remains absent.

FitnessPro: Without such safeguards, the consequences are predictable. We cannot have a compromised soldier guarding the fort, or the entire city wall would collapse in no time.

We cannot have a compromised gatekeeper on duty, or he would be unable to prevent the enemy from penetrating the city’s security system and compromising the safety of the residents the wall is meant to protect.

Likewise, a compromised guard would give burglars a gala time, taking whatever they please. A compromised soldier brings calamity upon the entire city.

One who has been appointed to ensure corruption remains at bay must not be corrupted himself. Otherwise, he is not just a hypocrite, but a mole seeking to destroy the institution from within.

Malaysia must not have a compromised soldier. Justifications are mere excuses. A person of integrity knows what to do immediately. A person of honour knows what to say and what to do without being told.

Do the right thing, Azam Baki, if you are truly here to fight corruption.

IndigoKiwi9570: Yet, even when declarations are made, questions remain about enforcement. The New Straits Times cited Azam as saying that the shares had been properly declared through the Public Service Department’s Human Resource Management system.

However, it appears that no one is tasked with monitoring these declarations or flagging non-compliance with the 2024 government circular.

That circular states that civil servants may hold shares in Malaysian-incorporated companies only if the holdings do not exceed five percent of paid-up capital or RM100,000 in value, whichever is lower.

The fact that an amount far exceeding this limit could be declared without consequence raises serious concerns.

Now we understand why someone described such an act as “brave”.

Justice For All 2026: Against this backdrop, Nurul Izzah Anwar, deputy president of PKR, has urged the government to form an independent oversight committee tasked with scrutinising the MACC’s enforcement actions and reporting directly to Parliament.

However, the very need for such a committee implicitly confirms that, all this while, the MACC has not met public expectations.

There is an overbearing perception that enforcement has been selective, rather than carried out without fear or favour, regardless of who the perpetrators may be.

Going forward, one of the key performance indicators of the MACC’s effectiveness must be the appointment of the right person - someone with strong credibility and proven integrity - as its head.

Only then will the MACC earn the respect and trust of the public. Establishing committee after committee to solve recurring problems is not a sustainable solution.

Mat M Din: The proposal (by Nurul Izzah) is, nonetheless, a sound one. An independent oversight committee could play a meaningful role in closely scrutinising investigations carried out by the MACC.

To ensure that such a body has real impact and credibility, several MPs from opposition parties should be appointed to sit on the committee.

BobbyO: Still, public scepticism runs deep. How many times have the people raised this issue about setting up an authority to monitor the MACC? How many times has this been suggested to the prime minister?

These calls have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears, while Azam’s tenure has been extended time after time.

What the public sees instead is one drama after another - Tan Sris and Datos being arrested to fill front pages.

In all honesty, how many of these VIPs actually end up facing the consequences of their criminal activities? - Mkini