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The Malaysian Bar congratulates Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din on his appointment as the Chairman of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (“MACC”)’s Anti-Corruption Advisory Board for the term 2025–2028.1 Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din is tasked to lead with transparency, uphold the highest ethical standards, and ensure that the MACC remains an independent and effective institution. With the weight of his responsibilities and high public expectations, this appointment must translate into effective actions that strengthen public confidence in Malaysia’s anti-corruption efforts.
We hope that this tenure will bring about meaningful institutional reform in the MACC, strengthening its independence, integrity, and effectiveness in combating corruption.
The urgency for reform within the MACC has long been evident, particularly in light of past controversies that have tested its institutional resilience. Scandals such as the 1MDB case and the tragic death of Teoh Beng Hock have raised serious concerns about the MACC’s transparency, accountability, and ability to function without political interference. Malaysia’s stagnant ranking at 57 in Transparency International Malaysia’s Corruption Perceptions Index2 further underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform.3
To address these long-standing issues, the Malaysian Bar calls for structural reform of the MACC, including:
- Removing the MACC from the Prime Minister’s Department (“PMD”) and Placing It Under Parliamentary Oversight — The continued placement of the MACC under the PMD raises concerns about executive influence over the agency. The Malaysian Bar urges the Government to expedite the proposed transition of the MACC to operate under the direct purview of Parliament. This reform would institutionalise the MACC’s independence, ensuring that its investigations are free from political interference, and reinforcing public trust in its ability to combat corruption impartially;
- Establishing an Anti-Corruption Service Commission (“ACSC”) — This independent body would be responsible for appointing and overseeing the MACC Chief Commissioner and officers to ensure that leadership appointments are merit-based and free from undue influence. The ACSC would also be empowered to remove the Chief Commissioner for misconduct or inability to perform duties, with a fixed tenure of five years to prevent arbitrary dismissals;
- Restoring the Anti-Corruption Agency (“ACA”) Name — Reverting to the original Anti-Corruption Agency (“ACA”) name would distinguish the agency from its oversight mechanism, clarify its role, and enhance public confidence; and
- Enhancing Parliamentary Oversight through a Joint Committee on Corruption (“PJCC”) — A bipartisan PJCC should be established to oversee senior MACC appointments and ensure greater accountability. The PJCC should reflect representation from both the House of Representatives and the Senate and chaired by a Member of Parliament from the Opposition to ensure a non-partisan approach to oversight.
The Malaysian Bar firmly believes that the creation of these three key bodies — ACSC, PJCC, and ACA — which are hoped to be operating independently yet subject to mutual oversight is essential to safeguarding the integrity of anti-corruption efforts in Malaysia.
Only through such reforms can the MACC regain public trust and function as a truly independent anti-corruption institution.
The Malaysian Bar further urges the Government to prioritise additional critical reforms to combat corruption, including:
- Tabling and enacting the Political Financing Bill before the next general election to regulate political donations and prevent undue influence over the democratic process; and
- Expediting the implementation of the new asset declaration format for senior public officials and Members of Parliament to promote transparency and prevent illicit wealth accumulation.
The Malaysian Bar urges the Government and relevant stakeholders to prioritise these reforms and take concrete steps to strengthen the national anti-corruption framework. We remain committed to advocating a legal and institutional structure that upholds the rule of law and promotes transparency and public confidence in Malaysia’s fight against corruption.
Mohamad Ezri b Abdul Wahab
President
Malaysian Bar
21 March 2025
1 Salim Fateh Din appointed MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman, The Edge Malaysia, 19 March 2025.
2 Press Release: Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 press-releases, Transparency International Malaysia, 11 February 2025.
3 Why is MACC still under PM’s dept, graft-fighter asks govt, Free Malaysia Today, 23 February 2025.