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Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission

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Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia
سوروهنجاي ڤنچڬاهن رسواه مليسيا‎
Logo of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
Logo of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
AbbreviationMACC / SPRM
MottoBebas, Telus, Profesional
Independent, Transparent, Professional
Agency overview
Formed1967; 59 years ago (1967)
Preceding agencies
  • Anti-Corruption Agency (1964–1971, 1989–2010)
  • National Bureau of Investigations (1973–1982)
Employees2,937 (2017)
Annual budgetMYR 216,220,000 (2017)
Jurisdictional structure
National agency
(Operations jurisdiction)		Malaysia
Operations jurisdictionMalaysia
Legal jurisdictionNational
Governing bodyGovernment of Malaysia
Constituting instrument
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
Operational structure
HeadquartersMACC Headquarters,
No. 2 Lebuh Wawasan,
Precinct 7, Putrajaya
Agency executives
  • Abdul Halim Aman, Chief Commissioner
  • Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations)
  • Norazlan Mohd Razali, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention)
  • Junipah Wandi, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Management & Professionalism)

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (Malay: Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia; Jawi: سوروهنجاي ڤنچڬاهن رسواه مليسيا‎), abbreviated as MACC or SPRM (formerly known as the Anti-Corruption Agency or Badan Pencegah Rasuah), is a government agency in Malaysia that investigates and prosecutes corruption in the public and private sectors.

History

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The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was formed in January 2009 from its predecessor, the Anti-Corruption Agency, created in October 1967 in order to combat corruption.

The agency is headed by Chief Commissioner Azam Baki, who replaced Latheefa Koya on 9 March 2020.[1][2]

Duties

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The MACC was modelled after top anti-corruption agencies, such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong and the Independent Commission Against Corruption in New South Wales, Australia.

Its purpose is to combat corruption and abuse of power. It is responsible for investigating corruption cases and ensuring that those involved in the crime are punished.

The MACC also educates Malaysians on how to avoid corruption. It holds various programs, such as talks and campaigns, to raise awareness about the dangers of corruption to people and the nation.

Monitoring

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There are five independent bodies that monitor the MACC to ensure its integrity and to protect citizen rights. These bodies are managed separately from other government offices, in order to provide an independent perspective.

The five bodies are:[3]

  1. the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board
  2. the Special Committee on Corruption
  3. the Complaints Committee
  4. the Operations Review Panel
  5. the Corruption Consultation and Prevention Panel

List of MACC chief commissioners

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Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad

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The Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS), established in 2024,[4] is the elite tactical unit of the MACC, trained to handle high-risk scenarios and provide enhanced security for MACC officers during sensitive operations.[5]

Specialising in close-quarters combat and tactical operations, ACTS operatives receive intensive training from the 69 Commando at its training centre in Ulu Kinta, ensuring their preparedness for any situation.[6]

Notable investigations and controversies

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High-profile investigations

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On 31 July 2010, the MACC chief, Abu Kassim Mohamed, pledged to resign if any graft reports were not investigated by his agency, including high-profile cases involving government ministers. In a challenge, Raja Petra Kamarudin, a popular online blogger and political activist, began publishing what he claimed were MACC copies of investigation reports against the former Anti-Corruption Agency chief Zulkifly Mat Noor, National Civics Bureau director-general Shagul Hamid Abdullah, and former Menteri Besar of Selangor Khir Toyo. Also included was a preliminary investigation based on a report where Kulim assemblyman Lim Soo Nee claimed that he was offered a bribe to defect to the Barisan Nasional political coalition.[7]

Deaths in custody

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On 16 July 2009, Teoh Beng Hock was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam after falling from the 14th floor, subsequent to giving a statement to MACC officers in the Selangor office in Shah Alam.[8] Beng Hock was the political aide to state assemblyman and executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, and he was being questioned as part of an alleged corruption investigation involving Hian Wah. An inquest was held, and the coroner returned an open verdict.[9] Following this, a Royal Commission of Inquiry was set up to ascertain the cause of death. It released its findings on 21 July 2011, deciding that Beng Hock had committed suicide. His family refused to accept the findings, however, and insisted that he had been murdered.[10]

On 6 April 2011, Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed, a customs officer, was found dead after falling from the third floor of the Federal Territory MACC office in Kuala Lumpur. He was alleged to have been part of a corruption investigation involving 62 customs officers.[11]

Murder of high-ranking MACC officer

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Anthony Kevin Morais was a deputy public prosecutor for the Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia and the MACC. He was last seen alive on 4 September 2015, leaving his Menara Duta condominium in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, for work in Putrajaya. His youngest brother filed a missing person's report late the next day. Earlier, a car matching the model Morais owned was found at a palm oil plantation in Perak.[12] His body was found in a concrete-filled drum at USJ 1, Subang Jaya, Selangor, on 16 September 2015.[citation needed]

Sabah State Water Department corruption probe

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Main article: Sabah State Water Department corruption probe

On 4 October 2016, the MACC confiscated more than RM114.5 million during an operation into the Sabah State Water Department office, with the ex-deputy chief commissioner, Azam Baki, describing it as the first large haul involving corruption in the commission's history.[13]

Arrest of former Prime Minister Najib Razak

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Main article: 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal

On 3 July 2018, former prime minister Najib Razak was arrested by the MACC as part of an investigation into RM42 million (US$10.6 million) transferred into his bank account from SRC International Sdn Bhd, the investment company of 1Malaysia Development Berhad. The police seized 1,400 necklaces, 567 handbags, 423 watches, 2,200 rings, 1,600 brooches, and 14 tiaras worth $273 million.[14]

On 28 July 2020, the Malaysian High Court convicted Razak on all seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust. He was the first Malaysian prime minister to have been convicted of corruption,[15][16] and he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and fined RM210 million.[17][18]

Alleged corruption by former prime minister Ismail Sabri

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In March 2025, former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was named a suspect in a corruption probe involving RM700 million (US$160 million)[19][20] in government funds under the Keluarga Malaysia promotion campaign. Following a raid of several "safe houses", the MACC seized RM177 million (US$40.5 million)[19][21][22] of cash (in various currencies; only RM14 million was in Malaysian ringgit,[19]), luxury items, and gold. Yaakob was called in for questioning, but the session was delayed, as he had collapsed at home a day after the raids.[23][19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia – Logo" [Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission – Logo]. sprm.gov.my (in Malay). Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  2. ^ Mohd Anwar Patho Rohman (8 March 2020). "Azam Baki Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM baharu" [Azam Baki is the new MACC Chief Commissioner]. Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Ex-Hong Kong graft buster says MACC on the right track". Archived from the original on 16 December 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  4. ^ "ACTS – Pasukan Taktikal SPRM perkasa operasi banteras rasuah". Air Times News Network. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Fungsi SPRM". sprm.gov.my (in Malay). Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Seramai 18 Pegawai SPRM Ditauliah Sebagai Pegawai ACTS". sprm.gov.my (in Malay). 28 February 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  7. ^ "MACC Slams RPK's Allegations as Baseless". Aurora. Malaysia Today. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  8. ^ "Abide by RCI decision: lecturer". Sin Chew Jit Poh. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Open verdict for Teoh Beng Hock's inquest". The Malay Mail. 5 January 2011. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Teoh's family rejects findings; mum adamant he was murdered". The Star. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  11. ^ "Inquest into Ahmad Sarbaini's death begins Monday". The Star. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  12. ^ "Malaysia prosecutor found dead in drum". BBC News. BBC. BBC. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  13. ^ Julia Chan (5 October 2016). "Wealth on display: How it took MACC 15 hours, 30 people to count Sabah's biggest haul ever". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  14. ^ 1MDB scandal explained: a tale of Malaysia's missing billions Published by The Guardian on 25 October 2018
  15. ^ "Najib gets concurrent 12-year jail sentence, RM210mil fine (Live Updates)". The Star.
  16. ^ "Najib Razak: Former Malaysian PM guilty on all charges in corruption trial". BBC News. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Ex-Malaysian PM Najib gets 12 years' jail in 1MDB-linked graft trial". The Straits Times. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak sentenced to 12 years in jail following guilty verdict in 1MDB trial". Channel NewsAsia. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  19. ^ a b c d "MACC: Ismail Sabri a 'suspect' in probe involving RM700 mil Keluarga Malaysia promotion campaign". The Edge Malaysia. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Former Malaysia PM Ismail Sabri named suspect in corruption probe, to be questioned on Mar 5". CNA. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Ismail Sabri finally at MACC for questioning over RM177m loot seizure (VIDEO)". Malay Mail. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  22. ^ Yusof, Justin Zack bin (4 March 2025). "MACC: Ismail Sabri a key suspect in graft probe". The Star. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  23. ^ "Ismail Sabri expected to give MACC statement on Thursday". Free Malaysia Today. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
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