Improving Oversight of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
In Malaysia, corruption is a major public interest issue. According to the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024-2028, the cumulative estimated loss of Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product between 2019 to 2023 was RM277 billion. In the past decade alone, numerous corruption scandals have come to light, costing billions in public funds, including 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the flawed procurement of the Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), and Jana Wibawa, among others. As a result, the enforcement agency responsible for fighting corruption – the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) – has faced significant public criticism and mistrust for its lack of effectiveness in curtailing grand corruption.
Despite the severity of this issue, since its inception in 2009, no major reform of the MACC has been instituted by any government. On the contrary, statements by the MACC itself point to deep-seated institutional resistance to reform. In recent years, separate calls to place the MACC under independent oversight have been met with vehement rejection by the MACC and its Chief Commissioner, Azam Baki. Instead, the Commission has consistently insisted that it is fully independent and already subject to robust “check-and-balance mechanisms” that ensure accountability. But do these accountability frameworks actually work?
Through this report, C4 Center examines the effectiveness of the MACC’s check-and-balance mechanisms and highlights major structural weaknesses that reveal severe limitations of accountability and oversight for the MACC.
