https://www.scmp.com/rss/522401/feed The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is a governmental anti-corruption agency headquartered in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Established in 2009, it is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting corruption, abuse of power, and malpractice across both public and private sectors. Operating with principles of independence, transparency, and professionalism, the MACC also focuses on prevention through education and community engagement, including initiatives with youth. It plays a significant role... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Fugitive financier Jho Low’s request for a pardon from US President Donald Trump has reopened a central question left by Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal: whether the man alleged to have helped orchestrate one of the world’s biggest financial frauds will ever face trial. Analysts say the request appears unlikely to succeed because Low has never appeared in a US court, stood trial or accepted responsibility – and a pardon cannot erase charges he faces in Malaysia and Singapore. But the attempt has still... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353531/how-low-can-jho-go-chances-trump-pardon-malaysian-1mdb-scandal-below-5?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353531/how-low-can-jho-go-chances-trump-pardon-malaysian-1mdb-scandal-below-5?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 07:05:27 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency got a new chief on Wednesday with the arrival of Abdul Halim Aman, a former High Court judge handed the task of steadying an institution that has spent years chasing political heavyweights while struggling to shake questions over its own independence. The 69-year-old took over as chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after Azam Baki ended a six-year tenure marked by headline arrests, asset recoveries and repeated political... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353365/who-abdul-halim-aman-malaysias-new-anti-corruption-enforcer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353365/who-abdul-halim-aman-malaysias-new-anti-corruption-enforcer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 04:30:25 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof On his last morning in charge of Malaysia’s anti-corruption watchdog, Azam Baki did what he had always done – talked tough and walked away on his own terms. But the man who spent the past six years making the country’s powerful sweat left behind a question he never satisfactorily answered: what do you do when the anti-corruption chief becomes the story? Analysts say Azam’s exit puts Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who stood by him throughout, in a difficult position ahead of the next general... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353238/azam-baki-steps-down-macc-chief-leaving-malaysias-pm-anwar-face-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353238/azam-baki-steps-down-macc-chief-leaving-malaysias-pm-anwar-face-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 06:29:43 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency is seeking to charge two unnamed individuals over a 1.1 billion ringgit (US$278 million) semiconductor deal with British chip designer Arm Holdings, as former economy minister Rafizi Ramli returned for a third day of questioning in the same probe. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the investigation was nearing completion after officers recorded statements from 22 witnesses, including Rafizi and his former aide, political analyst James... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352636/malaysia-seeks-charge-2-over-us278-million-arm-semiconductor-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352636/malaysia-seeks-charge-2-over-us278-million-arm-semiconductor-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 10:42:47 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Four paintings linked to one of the world’s most audacious financial frauds stood on easels at Malaysia’s anti-corruption headquarters on Wednesday: a Picasso, a Miro, a Balthus and an Ultrillo – all allegedly bought with money stolen from the Malaysian people. The unveiling of the works at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya marked the first public showing of artworks recovered from the multibillion-dollar Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal since... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3352577/malaysia-unveils-recovered-1mdb-masterpieces-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3352577/malaysia-unveils-recovered-1mdb-masterpieces-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 05:53:47 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg A Malaysian minister urged the country’s police chief to clarify the status of investigations into allegations that a network of businessmen was colluding with anti-corruption agency officials to oust executives. The government has ordered law enforcement agencies, including the Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission (MACC), to look into the allegations involving the businessmen, nicknamed the “corporate mafia”. So far, the police say they have found no evidence of the MACC’s involvement. “It is... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352472/whats-happening-malaysias-corporate-mafia-probe-minister-wants-updates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352472/whats-happening-malaysias-corporate-mafia-probe-minister-wants-updates?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 07:13:51 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency on Monday questioned former economy minister Rafizi Ramli over a billion-ringgit semiconductor deal with British chip designer Arm Holdings, escalating a politically sensitive inquiry that has swept up ministers, senior officials and one of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s most outspoken former allies. Rafizi, the Pandan MP and a former senior figure in Anwar’s reformist People’s Justice Party, arrived at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC)... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3352310/malaysia-anwars-former-ally-rafizi-ramli-grilled-over-us278-million-arm-chip-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3352310/malaysia-anwars-former-ally-rafizi-ramli-grilled-over-us278-million-arm-chip-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 03:23:53 +0000 Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof When Malaysia’s government announced a ban on two books in mid-April, the move raised eyebrows, with some questioning the intent of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration and his reformist credentials. The home affairs ministry on April 16 declared that the books – one of which was a memoir of the grandmother to an ally of Anwar – were a danger to national security for containing communist elements and ideologies. The decision triggered immediate pushback, predictably from civil society... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352174/malaysias-book-bans-iran-war-anwars-reform-agenda-faces-sternest-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352174/malaysias-book-bans-iran-war-anwars-reform-agenda-faces-sternest-test?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia on Saturday appointed a former judge as its new anti-corruption chief in an unprecedented move, as the government seeks to calm months of political turbulence over alleged misconduct linked to the watchdog’s outgoing head. Allies and opponents have hit out against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since February following reports claiming that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) boss Azam Baki was involved in a share ownership scandal and the agency’s officers were allegedly working... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351404/malaysia-gets-new-anti-corruption-chief-protests-mount-against-outgoing-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351404/malaysia-gets-new-anti-corruption-chief-protests-mount-against-outgoing-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:51:51 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Malaysia’s king said he would select a new anti-corruption chief, the first official confirmation that current head Azam Baki’s term will not be renewed when it ends next month. “I will determine who is the best candidate to lead the MACC from now on,” Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor, the current monarch, said in a social media post on Thursday, referring to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. He added that “there is no need for any party to politicise the matter”. Representatives for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351092/malaysias-king-pick-best-candidate-head-anti-corruption-agency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351092/malaysias-king-pick-best-candidate-head-anti-corruption-agency?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:58:43 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan A Malaysian court has granted an application by anti-corruption officials to issue an arrest warrant for two sons of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, after they failed to comply with repeated requests to turn up for questioning over their family’s wealth. Daim and his clan have been at the centre of a years-long probe into alleged abuse of power and corruption by the country’s elites, who critics have accused of colluding with two-time prime minister Mahathir Mohamad to enrich themselves... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349326/malaysian-corruption-watchdog-secures-arrest-warrant-tycoon-daims-sons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349326/malaysian-corruption-watchdog-secures-arrest-warrant-tycoon-daims-sons?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:16:14 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A daughter of Malaysia’s late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin was charged in a Kuala Lumpur court on Tuesday over allegations that she failed to declare shareholdings to anti-corruption investigators, in the latest escalation of a long-running probe into the wealth of one of the country’s most prominent political families. The case against Asnida Abdul Daim is part of the investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into assets linked to her father, a two-time finance... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349239/malaysias-op-godfather-probe-reaches-daims-daughter-asnida-pleads-not-guilty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349239/malaysias-op-godfather-probe-reaches-daims-daughter-asnida-pleads-not-guilty?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:10:16 +0000 The Star The Star A daughter of Malaysia’s late finance minister Daim Zainuddin will be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Tuesday. Lawyer Yu Ying Ying confirmed that Asnida Daim, who is in her 60s, will be charged under Section 36(2) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009. That section relates to the offence of failing to comply with a written notice from the MACC to declare assets. Court records indicate the case will be mentioned before Judge Rosli Ahmad at 9am. In a separate... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349190/malaysia-daims-daughter-be-charged-kuala-lumpur-court-amid-corruption-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349190/malaysia-daims-daughter-be-charged-kuala-lumpur-court-amid-corruption-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:12:00 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele Malaysia has given the family of missing pastor Raymond Koh access to a long-classified government report after dropping a legal challenge, but questions remain unanswered over his case, according to rights groups and lawyers. The situation surrounding Koh has revived memories of other Malaysians who are believed to be victims of enforced disappearances in the country. Koh has not been seen after the then 62-year-old was abducted in broad daylight in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, on February 13,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348987/malaysia-drops-appeal-abducted-activists-case-family-still-seeks-answers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348987/malaysia-drops-appeal-abducted-activists-case-family-still-seeks-answers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:41:39 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s government has said it “strongly denies” a claim made in a news report that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sought to delay the release of findings from an investigation into the country’s anti-corruption chief, and will take legal action over the allegation. The latest claim has sharpened scrutiny of Anwar, whose reformist image and anti-corruption credentials have come under strain amid a series of allegations involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and its chief... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348661/malaysia-denies-anwar-delayed-disclosure-probe-macc-chief-threatens-legal-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348661/malaysia-denies-anwar-delayed-disclosure-probe-macc-chief-threatens-legal-action?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:45:54 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency on Wednesday offered to pay for the flight of a London-based key witness to help with its investigation into possible corruption linked to a US$250 million deal signed last year between the government and British chip design firm Arm Holdings. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has for the past month been on the hunt for former government aide James Chai, whom it said was a key witness in its probe on possible abuse of power, fraud and governance... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348631/malaysian-anti-corruption-body-offers-pay-key-witness-flight-chips-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348631/malaysian-anti-corruption-body-offers-pay-key-witness-flight-chips-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:45:39 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Two votes. That was the margin by which Malaysia’s prime minister, a man with a supermajority in the 222-seat lower house, failed to pass a bill his own coalition had spent weeks publicly championing. After the numbers were read out, the cameras cut to Anwar Ibrahim. He was mid-laugh, chatting with his deputy. The bill, defeated on March 2, was supposed to be a quick win – a term-limit proposal capping any prime minister at two terms or 10 years in office, chosen precisely because it was... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346522/graft-and-gridlock-anwars-malaysia-reformist-cracks-widen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346522/graft-and-gridlock-anwars-malaysia-reformist-cracks-widen?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 02:30:08 +0000 The Star The Star Businessman Albert Tei has released a photo purportedly showing a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer brandishing a firearm to back his claims that he had a gun pointed at him during a raid on his home last November. Speaking to reporters at the court complex in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, Tei said the photo was sent to him on Monday via an unknown number. “I admit, the photo is not very clear but I believe it was taken from an MACC officer’s body camera,” he said. “What is the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346465/malaysian-businessman-releases-photo-armed-officer-prove-he-was-held-gunpoint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346465/malaysian-businessman-releases-photo-armed-officer-prove-he-was-held-gunpoint?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:03:53 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s corruption trial opened in Kuala Lumpur on Monday with a courtroom fight over the admissibility of TikTok videos, which prosecutors hope will link millions of ringgit in illicit funds to his Bersatu party. Among the most keenly observed cases involving Malaysia’s political elite in years, the proceedings come three years after Muhyiddin was first charged in connection with projects under his administration’s Covid-19 recovery efforts. Malaysian... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3346110/muhyiddins-corruption-trial-opens-fight-over-tiktok-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3346110/muhyiddins-corruption-trial-opens-fight-over-tiktok-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:49:38 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s anti-corruption investigation into a flagship chip-design deal with Britain’s Arm Holdings took a more combustible turn on Thursday after a former government aide declared: “I am not Jho Low 2.0.” The remark – invoking the fugitive financier at the centre of Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal – came as the country’s anti-corruption agency pushed back against his claims, while allies of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned the investigation risked appearing heavy-handed. The dispute has dragged... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3345514/malaysias-arm-chip-deal-probe-turns-political-ex-aide-says-i-am-not-jho-low-20?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3345514/malaysias-arm-chip-deal-probe-turns-political-ex-aide-says-i-am-not-jho-low-20?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 04:34:15 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may face growing difficulty pushing through major reforms as Malaysia edges closer to its next general election, analysts have said, after a parliamentary setback exposed strains within his broad but fragile ruling coalition. The warning signs emerged when lawmakers failed to pass a constitutional amendment to limit the prime minister’s tenure to two terms – a reform widely expected to succeed given the government’s commanding majority. Anwar’s administration fell... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345410/malaysias-anwar-under-pressure-after-parliamentary-setback-complicates-reform-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345410/malaysias-anwar-under-pressure-after-parliamentary-setback-complicates-reform-push?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:00:39 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Will Iran collapse without Khamenei or can its regime endure? 2. Why US strikes on Iran just made North Korea less likely to play ball 3. Viral video of child being shoved at Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya Crossing stokes anger 4. Indonesia is getting an aircraft carrier. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3345210/outlook-iran-leadership-philippines-investigates-epstein-ties-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3345210/outlook-iran-leadership-philippines-investigates-epstein-ties-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 04:00:21 +0000 Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s government said on Friday it would consider calls for a royal commission to investigate alleged abuses of power within the country’s anti-corruption agency, as pressure grew for the immediate removal of its chief commissioner. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has faced growing pressure from critics and allies alike since news reports earlier this month alleged that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki had bought corporate shares exceeding the limit permitted for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344908/malaysia-considers-high-powered-commission-probe-anti-corruption-agency-allegations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344908/malaysia-considers-high-powered-commission-probe-anti-corruption-agency-allegations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:24:08 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency on Friday asked the public for help in locating the four children of the late tycoon and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, as it widened an investigation into the family’s wealth. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said it was seeking information on the whereabouts of Asnida Abdul Daim, 63, Md Wira Dani Abdul Daim, 46, Muhammed Amir Zainuddin Daim, 29 and Muhammed Amin Zainuddin Daim, 26, “to assist in investigations”. The statement, however, did not... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344865/malaysians-asked-help-find-daims-4-children-corruption-probe-widens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344865/malaysians-asked-help-find-daims-4-children-corruption-probe-widens?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:52:16 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is facing mounting pressure from within his own ruling coalition after a key partner called for an independent inquiry into allegations that a “corporate mafia” is operating within the country’s anti-corruption agency, placing his reform agenda under renewed scrutiny. The Democratic Action Party (DAP) – the largest party in Anwar’s uneasy alliance – said it would insist on a royal commission to investigate claims that senior figures in the Malaysian... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344621/pressure-mounts-malaysias-anwar-allies-seeks-new-inquiry-macc-allegations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344621/pressure-mounts-malaysias-anwar-allies-seeks-new-inquiry-macc-allegations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:05:56 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Malaysia’s anti-corruption chief Azam Baki was summoned by a special committee set up to probe his stock ownership to explain the matter on Thursday, as authorities respond to calls for him to be investigated. The committee is examining the compliance and regularity of Azam’s share ownership based on the initial report it received, Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, chief secretary to the government, said in a statement on Sunday. It is still in the process of evaluating all evidence obtained and will call... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344265/malaysia-summons-anti-corruption-chief-stock-ownership-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344265/malaysia-summons-anti-corruption-chief-stock-ownership-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:18:01 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Twelve police officers have been arrested in Malaysia for allegedly extorting about 200,000 ringgit (US$51,000) in cryptocurrency from a group of Chinese nationals during a midnight raid on a house in Selangor, the country’s wealthiest state. The arrests, announced on Thursday, came just days after Malaysia’s king had issued a blunt warning about corruption within the civil service and police ranks, cautioning that such practices were on his “radar”. Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar said the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3344085/12-malaysian-police-arrested-over-chinese-nationals-missing-crypto?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3344085/12-malaysian-police-arrested-over-chinese-nationals-missing-crypto?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 04:58:46 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof In Malaysia, one question about corruption keeps being asked by the public no matter who is in power: who investigates the investigators? Fresh allegations over the investments of the country’s top anti-corruption official have brought that conundrum back into sharp focus, with critics warning that trust in key institutions – and in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s reform promises – is on the line. The controversy centres on Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343734/who-watches-malaysias-watchdog-controversy-over-anti-corruption-chief-strains-reform-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343734/who-watches-malaysias-watchdog-controversy-over-anti-corruption-chief-strains-reform-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:50:43 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Hundreds of black-clad Malaysians gathered in the capital on Sunday, calling for the arrest of anti-corruption chief Azam Baki after reports alleged he had improper shareholdings and that abuse of power took place in the commission he leads. The crowd of mainly young people waved black flags and placards as they assembled outside a shopping centre in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, with a major road temporarily shut to accommodate the demonstration. “We are gathering because the dignity of the law... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343661/hundreds-malaysians-rally-demand-arrest-anti-corruption-head-enough-enough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343661/hundreds-malaysians-rally-demand-arrest-anti-corruption-head-enough-enough?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:55:09 +0000 The Star The Star The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has filed a court order to forfeit overseas assets belonging to Prince Turki Abdullah Al Saud. The application to forfeit assets was filed under Sections 56(1), 59 and 61(2) of the Anti-Money-Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act. Around US$115.3 million held in several Swiss bank accounts is subject to the forfeiture order, including funds in JP Morgan (Suisse) and UBS Switzerland. MACC chief commissioner... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343621/malaysia-seeks-seize-saudi-princes-overseas-assets-worth-us115-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343621/malaysia-seeks-seize-saudi-princes-overseas-assets-worth-us115-million?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 07:44:20 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia has formed a special committee to investigate allegations that the head of the country’s anti-corruption agency owned shares beyond the limits for public officials, as calls mount for him to step aside after a damaging wave of accusations. The controversy erupted after Bloomberg news agency, citing corporate filings, alleged on Tuesday that Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), held shares in an investment holding company that far exceeded the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3343510/malaysia-orders-probe-anti-corruption-chief-calls-resignation-mount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3343510/malaysia-orders-probe-anti-corruption-chief-calls-resignation-mount?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:53:03 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has brushed aside calls to suspend or remove Malaysia’s anti-corruption chief, asking critics to “read his explanation”, after fresh reports about his shareholdings reignited public anger against the official. Citing corporate filings, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), was a key shareholder in an investment holding company. Azam told local media on Wednesday that the report was... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3343303/malaysias-anwar-defends-anti-corruption-chief-over-new-share-row-read-his-explanation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3343303/malaysias-anwar-defends-anti-corruption-chief-over-new-share-row-read-his-explanation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:54:53 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Malaysia has announced an immediate and full ban on the importation of electronic waste, as the government vowed the country would not be a “dumping ground” for the world’s waste. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said in a statement late on Wednesday that all electronic waste, commonly known as e-waste, would be reclassified under the “absolute prohibition” category effective immediately. This removes the discretionary power previously given to the Department of Environment to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3342472/malaysia-bans-e-waste-imports-not-worlds-dumping-ground?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3342472/malaysia-bans-e-waste-imports-not-worlds-dumping-ground?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:48:54 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has given Malaysia’s top enforcement officials a week to prove they are serious about stamping out corruption and smuggling, warning that those who feel they are unable to deliver should step aside. “My patience is wearing thin,” Anwar said, urging the officials to declare within seven days whether they were “not yet ready” to carry the responsibility entrusted to them. “If you don’t think you can do it, step aside so others can.” The warning, delivered in a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3341648/malaysias-anwar-orders-officials-file-anti-corruption-report-within-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3341648/malaysias-anwar-orders-officials-file-anti-corruption-report-within-week?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:38:47 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk The third wife of former Malaysian army chief Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan has been mocked on social media after arriving at court in a wheelchair to face money laundering charges linked to a military procurement scandal. Salwani Anuar, 27, was first seen in a wheelchair on Thursday at a special corruption high court in Kuala Lumpur, where she and her 58-year-old husband were each charged with four counts under Malaysia’s anti-money-laundering law. Though Salwani initially walked to the court... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3341266/malaysian-corruption-suspects-wheelchair-court-appearance-sparks-online-ridicule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3341266/malaysian-corruption-suspects-wheelchair-court-appearance-sparks-online-ridicule?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:36:30 +0000 The Star The Star Malaysian anti-corruption authorities have opened two investigation papers into a man bearing the title “Tan Sri” over his alleged involvement in a large-scale investment fraud amounting to more than 300 million ringgit (US$75 million). The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had arrested two individuals and carried out searches at five premises around the Klang Valley earlier in the week following information received. Preliminary investigations found that between 2021 and 2024, nearly... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341086/malaysia-arrests-well-known-tan-sri-over-us75-million-investment-fraud?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341086/malaysia-arrests-well-known-tan-sri-over-us75-million-investment-fraud?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 03:42:00 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s former army chief and one of his wives pleaded not guilty on Thursday to money-laundering charges involving about 2.2 million ringgit (US$544,000) amid a widening investigation into alleged bribery and abuse of power linked to military procurement. Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan, 58, and his wife Salwani Anuar, 27, were each charged with four counts under Malaysia’s anti-money-laundering law in separate proceedings at the special corruption high court in Kuala Lumpur. Prosecutors allege... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3340780/malaysian-ex-army-chief-wife-deny-laundering-us544000-military-procurement-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3340780/malaysian-ex-army-chief-wife-deny-laundering-us544000-military-procurement-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 04:48:25 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s king has issued a blunt warning to officials, saying his “hunt for the corrupt” will reach all levels as the country reels from a corruption scandal inside the armed forces that has implicated senior ranks. A former army chief and dozens of other officers and civilians have been arrested in recent weeks as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) seized 52 million ringgit (US$12.8 million) in cash, gold, cars and luxury watches. The anti-corruption body also froze 80 bank... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340423/malaysias-king-vows-wider-hunt-corrupt-military-scandal-engulfs-top-ranks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340423/malaysias-king-vows-wider-hunt-corrupt-military-scandal-engulfs-top-ranks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency is pushing deeper into one of the country’s most opaque corners, the defence procurement system, in a widening investigation into allegations of cartel-like tender fixing, bribery and unexplained cash movements. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has in recent weeks expanded its investigation into the Defence Ministry following a whistle-blower’s claim that documents showed large monthly deposits into accounts linked to a senior military officer and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339190/how-malaysias-military-tender-scandal-bringing-opaque-defence-deals-light?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339190/how-malaysias-military-tender-scandal-bringing-opaque-defence-deals-light?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:30:09 +0000 The Star The Star Former army chief Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan has been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over corruption allegations. Also arrested were his two wives after they presented themselves at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Wednesday to have their statements recorded in an ongoing investigation involving military contract tenders. Another couple was also arrested earlier in the day over the same investigation and remanded for seven days. Muhammad Hafizuddeain and his... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339115/malaysia-arrests-ex-army-chief-and-his-wives-corruption-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339115/malaysia-arrests-ex-army-chief-and-his-wives-corruption-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:43:29 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk,Iman Muttaqin Yusof SCMP’s Asia desk,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s defence ministry has ordered an internal investigation after viral social media posts alleged that unauthorised civilians had entered military camps for parties and other “immoral activities”, sparking a wave of online mockery as citizens use images of nuggets and sausages to express their outrage over the incident. On Monday, the ministry said it had directed the armed forces to conduct an immediate probe to verify the allegations circulating online. “The allegations do not reflect... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3338743/malaysia-orders-probe-after-viral-claims-immoral-activities-inside-military-bases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3338743/malaysia-orders-probe-after-viral-claims-immoral-activities-inside-military-bases?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 06:21:45 +0000 Reuters Reuters Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency said on Monday that it has raided ‌several firms alleged to be involved in bribery ‍linked to army procurement projects, days after the country’s army chief was placed on leave pending an investigation into the matter. Azam Baki, chief commissioner ⁠of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said the agency had also frozen six bank accounts belonging to a suspect and their family members as part of the probe. He did not provide ‍details about the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338057/malaysia-army-chief-leave-procurement-scandal-sparks-anti-corruption-raids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338057/malaysia-army-chief-leave-procurement-scandal-sparks-anti-corruption-raids?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:50:22 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Malaysia is set to receive 12 pieces of fine art – including works by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and Henri Matisse – after discussions with US officials to repatriate assets tied to the global corruption scandal at 1MDB. The works are being held by Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses in the United States and estimated to have a combined value of over US$30 million, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said in a statement on Saturday. They were purchased by Jasmine Loo, a former... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336454/malaysia-get-back-us30-million-worth-fine-art-linked-1mdb-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336454/malaysia-get-back-us30-million-worth-fine-art-linked-1mdb-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:33:51 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s former economy minister Rafizi Ramli has renewed his attack on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s reformist agenda, alleging that anti-corruption officers targeted candidates who challenged the leader’s daughter in internal party polls earlier this year. In an episode of his Yang Berhenti Menteri (The Minister Who Quit) podcast streamed on Friday, the Pandan MP and former Anwar ally alleged that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had investigated several contenders for the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335591/malaysian-ex-minister-rafizi-challenges-anwars-anti-graft-credentials-escalating-feud?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335591/malaysian-ex-minister-rafizi-challenges-anwars-anti-graft-credentials-escalating-feud?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:52:38 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A former political aide of Malaysia’s leader and a Sabah-linked businessman pleaded not guilty to four counts of corruption each on Thursday, in a case analysts say will taint Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s anti-corruption credentials. Anwar’s reform platform has already been tested by disputes over mineral exploration rights in Malaysia’s poorest but most resource-rich state, Sabah. Former political secretary Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin was accused of receiving 176,829.03 ringgit (US$42,930) in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3335163/ex-aide-malaysias-anwar-stand-trial-corruption-charges-linked-businessman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3335163/ex-aide-malaysias-anwar-stand-trial-corruption-charges-linked-businessman?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:11:33 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday vowed not to interfere in corruption investigations into his own political appointees, after a slew of allegations were levelled at close government aides. Last week, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, a senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, was implicated in a mining scandal in the state of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. Shamsul, who resigned from his post just hours after the revelation last Tuesday, is currently being held on remand by the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3334880/malaysias-anwar-vows-no-protection-close-aides-corruption-investigations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3334880/malaysias-anwar-vows-no-protection-close-aides-corruption-investigations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency on Friday detained a former senior aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for further investigation amid bribery allegations. Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, who resigned as Anwar’s senior political secretary this week, was held after being questioned by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers, Chief Commissioner Azam Baki said. MACC will apply for a court order on Saturday to extend Shamsul Iskandar’s detention beyond 24 hours, Azam said in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3334551/malaysia-corruption-probe-detains-ex-aide-pm-anwar-ibrahim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3334551/malaysia-corruption-probe-detains-ex-aide-pm-anwar-ibrahim?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 12:19:32 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s anti-graft drive has suffered a setback after a senior aide resigned over corruption claims, piling pressure on a leader already accused of abusing power and putting his ruling party at risk of rupture. Anti-corruption authorities previously mounted a high-profile crackdown against two-time former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, his family and close associates – long seen as untouchables – as part of Anwar’s pledge to dismantle top-level corruption under... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334186/malaysian-pms-war-corruption-hits-snag-top-political-secretary-quits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334186/malaysian-pms-war-corruption-hits-snag-top-political-secretary-quits?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 06:25:06 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan For decades, London’s property market has offered sanctuary to fortunes of murky origins, its red-brick mansions and gleaming office blocks standing as monuments to global impunity. Now, as anti-corruption watchdogs from Malaysia to Bangladesh demand justice, Britain is once again forced to reckon with its role as the world’s premier laundromat for kleptocrats. Malaysia’s investigators revealed earlier this month that they were investigating the alleged London-based assets of former prime... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326142/malaysia-bangladesh-asias-dirty-money-finds-home-uk-property?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326142/malaysia-bangladesh-asias-dirty-money-finds-home-uk-property?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:12 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Depending on who you ask, Anwar Ibrahim is either on a mission to liberate Malaysia from decades of corruption or settling old political scores under the guise of reform. The latest target of the prime minister’s anti-graft investigators? His 100-year-old arch rival and former mentor, Mahathir Mohamad. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission recently disclosed that British authorities were assisting with its more than year-long investigation into assets allegedly linked to Mahathir, who twice... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326155/anwar-vs-mahathir-malaysias-corruption-showdown-comes-full-circle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326155/anwar-vs-mahathir-malaysias-corruption-showdown-comes-full-circle?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:11 +0000