Enforcement chiefs need courage to make tough decisions, says Azam

 The MACC chief, who retires on May 12, said he has come to realise that the job often leaves a person with more enemies than friends.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said corruption cases are often harder to investigate than conventional criminal cases because ‘corruption often happens within small groups that protect each other’. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA:

 Courage and a willingness to make difficult decisions without being swayed by criticism are qualities needed by those who head enforcement agencies, says Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki.

Azam, who will retire on May 12 after more than four decades in anti-corruption enforcement, said he has come to realise that the job often leaves a person with more enemies than friends.

“If we want to stay safe, we should do nothing. But in an enforcement agency, we have to be brave enough to make decisions even if they draw criticism,” he said in a farewell interview recently.

Azam said corruption cases are often harder to investigate than conventional criminal cases because “corruption often happens within small groups that protect each other”. That made it more difficult to detect than crimes like robbery or theft. “Some cases can drag on for years without being directly uncovered,” he said.

He called for broader cooperation from professionals across various fields, including accounting, engineering, medicine and law, to strengthen investigations and improve analytical capacity. “Each background brings different perspectives and expertise that can help make investigations more effective,” he added.

Azam said MACC needs a more proactive, intelligence-led approach, especially in cases involving organised networks and high-profile individuals. Investigations could no longer rely solely on public complaints, but must be driven by intelligence gathering, internal information networks and strategic inter-agency cooperation.

On high-profile cases

Azam said one of the biggest challenges in enforcement is to be effective in tackling the increasingly complex forms of corruption and abuse of power.

“No organisation in the world is free from problems, including in developed countries like the US and the UK. There will always be issues such as cartels, abuse of power and system weaknesses. What matters is how consistently these problems are addressed,” he said.

He also defended the anti-graft body’s investigations into high-profile political figures, including former prime ministers Najib Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin, saying they were conducted based on credible information and proper procedures despite public criticism.

“Never in Malaysia’s history have we investigated a sitting prime minister. That is why some are uncomfortable with our approach. But my principle is simple: anyone who is guilty must be charged, regardless of their position,” he said.

Meeting the responsibility

Azam said accountability cannot be separated from enforcement duties, as every appointment comes with a responsibility that cannot be avoided or passed on to others.

“When someone is given a position, responsibility comes with it. There should be no culture of avoiding responsibility,” he said.

Azam began his career in 1984 when he joined the Anti-Corruption Agency, forerunner of MACC, and served as MACC chief since March 9, 2020. He said he had shaped his career through continuous learning, information sharing, and exposure to operations and administration.

“Vision is important. Without it, it is better not to be a leader,” said Azam. - FMT