THURSDAY, 13 JANUARY 2022, KUALA LUMPUR – The recent allegations against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Azam Bin Baki have increased expectations from Malaysians and civil society for the institution to establish and deliver the highest standards of ethics, good governance and independence as a government agency promoting integrity.

We hereby demand the following steps to be taken in connection with the case, as well as for MACC structural reform to be conducted immediately. Failure to do so will undermine the credibility of the present government, its corresponding institutions and the collective commitment towards governance and integrity.

1. An independent investigation to be conducted and carried out by individuals not connected to the MACC in order to ensure impartiality on these issues:
   • The alleged shares purchased, as to whether it was declared under the Public Officers Regulations Act (Conduct and Discipline) 1993;
   • Whether he had declared himself as the beneficial owner of the shares that were purchased by his brother to the Securities Commission at the material time of the purchase, as required by Section 25(4) of the Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991.
2. We are gravely concerned that the current oversight bodies of MACC are dysfunctional in nature, hence we wish to reiterate a reform proposal initiated in 2015 by the Malaysian Bar, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), C4 center, Transparency International Malaysia (TI–M), and Citizens’ Network for a Better Malaysia (CNBM) as follows:
   • to create an Independent Anti–Corruption Commission (IACC), a constitutionally mandated commission, beyond the scope, control and influence of the Executive; which will report to Parliament and provide oversight over the investigative agency to be renamed as the Anti-Corruption Agency.
   • to ensure the independence of Commissioners serving the commission; and
   • to ensure security of tenure for the Chairman and Commissioners.
   • to amend the MACC Act 2009, Official Secrets Act 1972, Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, Witness Protection Act 2009.
   • Adopt a Freedom of Information and Asset Declaration Act.
3. We trust that the above reform proposals will strengthen the independence of MACC as demanded by #RasuahBusters on 11th of September 2021. We hereby emphasise that it is extremely urgent that these reforms are implemented, as without an independent and robust framework to act on corruption, any anti-corruption agency is doomed to fail. We welcome the acceptance of some of our demands by the government and shall continue to pursue the rest until they are fully implemented.

— TAMAT —

Download Media Statement PDF File  Here

BY #RASUAHBUSTERS,IDEAS, C4, GBM,
BERSIH 2.0, TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL MALAYSIA ,U18
019-3823635