MACC chief gets cracking, officers must update asset declarations in a month

 

The MACC has instructed its officers to update their asset declarations within one month as part of efforts to strengthen the commission’s integrity following several negative reports.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the move was initiated by newly appointed MACC chief commissioner Abdul Halim Aman, who led by example by being the first to undertake the process.

“To strengthen internal integrity and transparency, the chief commissioner has directed all MACC officers to update their asset declarations within one month, with him himself initiating the process as an example,” she said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.

Azalina was responding to a question from Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who had asked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to outline the reforms to be implemented by the new MACC chief commissioner and provide an update on investigations into allegations of a “corporate mafia” involving MACC officers and business figures.

The corporate mafia controversy erupted in February 2026 after Bloomberg published a report alleging that a group of businesspersons had used their influence and assistance from certain MACC officers to seize control of several publicly listed companies.

Azam Baki

The allegations placed the integrity of the anti-corruption agency and its then-chief commissioner, Azam Baki, under intense public scrutiny and became the subject of an investigation.

At the time, MACC had denied the allegation, which came hot on the heels of Azam’s shareholdings scandal.

The allegation also sparked significant political pressure, particularly from government component parties such as DAP and civil society groups including Bersih, which called for the immediate establishment of a royal commission of inquiry and demanded Azam’s resignation.

Azam, whose contract was extended three times under Anwar, had stepped down on May 12.

In March 2026, the cabinet directed enforcement agencies, including the police, to investigate the “corporate mafia” allegation.

Restoring public trust

According to Azalina, aside from the asset declaration exercise, the MACC under its new leadership is also strengthening compliance with standard operating procedures, reinforcing checks and balances, and adopting a zero-tolerance approach to internal misconduct to restore public confidence.

Azalina Othman Said

“The MACC is now focusing on five core principles: uncompromising integrity, fair enforcement, prevention over punishment, technology and transparency, and rebuilding public trust.

“He (the chief commissioner) stressed that the MACC will continue to act firmly, professionally and independently of any political influence or vested interests, guided by the MACC Act 2009 (Act 694) and the principle that nobody is above the law,” she said.

Responding to the “corporate mafia” allegation, Azalina said other authorities are handling the matter.

“For the information of the honourable member, the allegation concerning the corporate mafia is currently under investigation by the police,” she said. - Mkini