KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has entered a high-impact era of enforcement that is reshaping the nation’s culture of accountability and economic reputation, analysts say.
“Since 2023, the MACC has demonstrated a marked improvement in its willingness to investigate high-profile cases, signalling that the institution is functioning more robustly and is no longer merely symbolic,” said University Malaya professor Datuk Awang Azman Awang Pawi.
Awang Azman, who is also a political analyst, noted that under the leadership of Tan Sri Azam Baki, the agency’s focus on high-profile cases reflects a high level of operational effectiveness.
This track record has shifted the MACC’s trajectory, proving its ability to function as an enforcement body rather than a decorative one. The agency’s increased productivity is evidenced by a steady stream of high-profile probes.
In 2023, investigations included former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.
The momentum continued into 2024 with probes into businessman Mirzan Mahathir, former army chief Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan, and former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
By 2025, the MACC’s reach had expanded to include Maju Holdings executive chairman Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed, former political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, and a RM1.1 billion probe involving ministry officials and senior civil servants.
Most recently, 2026 has seen investigations involving former Syariah Advisory Council chairman Tan Sri Daud Bakar, a RM2.5 billion probe into IJM, and former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.
“At present, Azam Baki appears more successful in instilling fear among political and corporate elites, producing a strong short-term impact on corrupt practices,” Awang Azman said.
He interpreted the firm support from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a strategic necessity.
“The strong defence by the Prime Minister can be interpreted as a strategic move to ensure that investigations into high-profile cases continue uninterrupted,” he said.
However, he warned that performance alone should not grant institutional immunity.
“Within a mature governance framework, operational performance does not supersede the imperatives of integrity and public perception,” he said, pointing to the risks of establishing a precedent where the ends justify the means.
Awang Azman said that this could lead to selective accountability, potentially weakening the broader reform agenda.
He further highlighted that if public perception shifts, those in power could still be seen as political liabilities.
For this reason, he noted that the MACC must remain a “symbol of firmness” rather than being seen as a “symbol of power protection.”
Meanwhile, Nordin Abdullah, author of Reputational Security and founding chairman of the Malaysia Global Business Forum, agreed that the commission has effectively built on past efforts to normalise accountability.
“Tan Sri Azam Baki has continued where others left off,” Abdullah observed, adding that the current leadership operates with the backing of a government seeking reform.
Nordin noted that this environment is fostering a broader cultural shift.
“We are seeing a change in culture. Malaysians are more willing to speak out or become whistleblowers because an environment to address corruption has been created,” he said, adding that the public is tentatively beginning to trust this new reality.
However, both analysts cautioned that long-term success requires maintaining high standards of integrity.
Nordin highlighted that the value of MACC’s actions lies in their accuracy and economic impact rather than sheer aggression.
“Actually, it’s not about being aggressive—that is not required. Being correct is what most people will respect,” he said, stressing that anti-corruption efforts must deliver direct benefits to the public.
“What people want is change that brings economic benefits directly to them. Corruption takes money away from the public—it is that simple.”
“While Malaysians may celebrate catching a big fish, even the smallest fish in their nasi lemak must be handled properly,” he added, using an analogy to emphasise that, regardless of the target, the public ultimately cares about substance over narrative.
Nordin added that the MACC must be seen as the first line of defence for the people and their economic future, noting that the country’s global competitiveness depends on it.
At the same time, Awang Azman said that the foundation of legitimacy ultimately rests on institutional trust rather than on any individual.
He maintained that a healthy precedent for Malaysia requires the “concurrent presence of both performance and integrity” to successfully drive the government’s broader reform and transparency agenda. – April 14, 2026