Failure to make anti-corruption chief appointment more transparent a blow to PM Anwar's reform and graftbuster credentials.
KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to again extend the tenure of controversial anti-graft chief Azam Baki has courted criticism amid growing concerns over corruption in Malaysia.that Datuk Seri Anwar’s administration has failed to deliver on - to replace the prime minister’s discretion to appoint the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission head with a more transparent process.
There were already calls for a more transparent process from civil society groups even when Mr Azam was given his first extension as MACC’s chief commissioner in May 2023 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60. The statement was widely mocked by analysts and civil society, with electoral reforms coalition Bersih pointing out that “for 25 years , Anwar called for electoral reforms and the abolition of draconian weapons such as the“How about separating the offices of prime minister and finance minister or imposing term limits for the prime minister,” asked Bersih executive director Ooi Kok Hin, referring to the campaign promises made by PH less than two years ago.
Several graft cases pursued against corporate entities also raised eyebrows, with police investigating claims the MACC aided a “corporate mafia” in hostile takeovers, an allegation repeated by a defence lawyer in court. Even PH parliamentarian Lim Lip Eng has twice complained about MACC extorting and robbing victims, with the latest being a claim that three rogue officers were in cahoots with a leader from Mr Anwar’s party to defraud a Chinese national. The trio were charged in December 2023 with robbery.
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