9 JULY 2026
On July 7th 2026, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said responded to Parliamentary questions regarding calls for greater transparency on the findings of investigations into former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Azam Baki’s recent shareholding scandal, as well as the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into the allegations of a ‘corporate mafia’ operating in collusion with the MACC. The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) and the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) are severely disappointed in the government’s continued apathy to the gravity of these issues, and calls on the government to commit to taking proactive steps to address the significant trust deficit in the integrity of our criminal justice system.
Refusal to ensure transparency only increases public mistrust
After the second batch of allegations of shareholding impropriety emerged against Azam Baki on February 10th 2026, the government formed a special committee led by Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to investigate the incident. From the beginning, the Cabinet had decided to limit the forum of inquiry to an ad hoc internal executive-level committee (instead of an independent body) and the scope of the investigation to just Azam Baki’s shareholding in public listed companies. Subsequently on March 11th, Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil announced that the Cabinet had received and discussed the final report released by the committee, but refused to disclose any details or findings. Since then, the committee’s findings have never been made public in any way.
Now Azalina, in a written reply to Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, has denied the latter’s request for a list of Azam Baki’s share purchase transactions, stating that the documents sought are not ‘public documents’ as they comprise of investigation documents, personal information, and asset declarations that are allegedly protected under prevailing law. Despite this, she assures us that the special investigative committee has “completed the investigation independently, transparently, and professionally,” and that the government “guarantees that all relevant aspects… have been examined during the investigation and appropriate action has been taken based on the committee’s findings.” Yet we must ask: how can the government expect the Malaysian public to trust their bare assertions with no evidence in support?
The investigative committee’s credibility was undermined from the start by the fact that the panel was made up of acting members of the Executive (the Attorney General, the Director General of Public Service, and the Secretary General of Treasury), severely compromising the independence of the body. The government’s insistence on secrecy adds another layer of obfuscation, further cementing the perception that the government has something to hide. Transparency is imperative to reassure the public that these allegations are being investigated in a fair and impartial manner.
Even if certain documents cannot be released due to legal constraints, what stops the government from publishing an executive summary of the committee’s report with personal information redacted? In fact, the government did so in 2024, when the RCI report on Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge was released with redactions, protecting sensitive information while still ensuring public disclosure. This sort of proactive transparency can and should be performed by an administration that claims to have zero tolerance for corruption, so why does the government insist on keeping these findings hidden from the public eye?
An RCI must be established to ensure a comprehensive and impartial inquiry
In response to Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng’s question on why an RCI has not been established to look into Azam Baki’s shareholding scandal as well as the allegations of a corporate mafia colluding with the MACC, Azalina provided a non-answer. She stated that the government “takes seriously every allegation involving the corporate mafia issue” and that investigations by authorities are ongoing to examine all allegations and obtain full and verified facts. Therefore, she stated that it “is important that the investigation process is given the proper space and opportunity to be conducted independently, transparently, and comprehensively according to stipulated law and procedure.” She concluded by stating that the government is “always open to consider the establishment of an RCI or other appropriate mechanism if deemed necessary in the public interest.”
We are unsure how it is not in the public interest to comprehensively investigate allegations that officers within the primary Malaysian anti-corruption law enforcement agency have colluded with businesspersons to perform targeted harassment for a price? It bears repeating that the authorities which have been tasked with investigating this matter include the MACC itself. Does the government truly believe that the body which has been accused of committing misconduct will conduct an honest and impartial inquiry into the allegations?
Given the gravity of the allegations, an administration that truly wishes to eliminate corruption from the root must take more decisive action than this. In our view, setting up an RCI is the bare minimum that needs to be done in order to ensure public trust in the justice system. Having an investigating body of credible and well-respected commissioners will reassure all Malaysians that the allegations shall be looked into impartially and without undue influence. Of course, the RCI should also ensure that their findings are published for public viewing, to allow members of the public to understand the full scope of the issue.
In order to regain the public’s trust, the Madani government must make clear commitments to transparency and public disclosure, after what seems to be years of, at best, inaction and at worst, complicity. Therefore, C4 Center and BERSIH urge the following:
- The government must commit to publishing the findings of the special investigative committee pertaining to Azam Baki’s shareholding scandal.
- If any criminal elements have been disclosed in the committee’s findings, immediate and appropriate action must be taken against Azam Baki.
- An RCI must be established to look into all allegations of impropriety relating to the MACC.
END OF STATEMENT
Issued by:
- The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center)
- The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH)
For inquiries, please contact: c4center@gmail.com or info@bersih.org
