40 Years In Fighting Graft, Azam Baki Stresses Need For Courage In Making Tough Decisions

By Noraizura Ahmad

PUTRAJAYA, May 10 (Bernama) -- The leadership in enforcement agencies requires courage and a willingness to make difficult decisions without being swayed by criticism, said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

Azam said that over more than four decades in anti-corruption enforcement, he has come to realise that the job often leaves a person with more enemies than friends.

“If we want to stay safe, we should do nothing. But in an enforcement agency, we have to be brave enough to make decisions even if they draw criticism,” he said in an exclusive meeting with media practitioners here recently.

Azam, who is due to retire on May 12, said his experience since joining the MACC in 1984 has shaped his career through continuous learning, information sharing, and exposure to operations and administration.

“Vision is important. Without it, it is better not to be a leader,” said Azam, who joined the Anti-Corruption Agency (BPR) in 1984 and has served as MACC chief since March 9, 2020.

According to Azam, one of the biggest challenges in enforcement is ensuring that investigations and enforcement actions remain effective in addressing increasingly complex forms of corruption and abuse of power.

“No organisation in the world is free from problems, including in developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. There will always be issues such as cartels, abuse of power and system weaknesses. What matters is how consistently these problems are addressed,” he said.

He also defended the anti-graft body’s investigations into high-profile political figures, including former prime ministers Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, saying they were conducted based on credible information and proper procedures despite public criticism.

“Never in Malaysia’s history, since the MACC was known as the Anti-Corruption Agency, have we investigated a sitting prime minister. That is why some are uncomfortable with our approach. But my principle is simple: anyone who is guilty must be charged, regardless of their position,” he said.

Azam said accountability cannot be separated from enforcement duties, as every appointment comes with a responsibility that cannot be avoided or passed on to others.

“When someone is given a position, responsibility comes with it. There should be no culture of avoiding responsibility,” he said.

On efforts to strengthen anti-corruption investigations, Azam said the MACC needs a more proactive, intelligence-led approach, especially in cases involving organised networks and high-profile individuals, stressing that investigations can no longer rely solely on public complaints, but must be driven by intelligence, internal information networks and strategic inter-agency cooperation.

Azam noted that corruption cases are often harder to investigate than conventional crimes because they involve small groups that protect each other.

“Corruption often happens within small groups that protect each other, making it harder to detect than crimes like robbery or theft. Some cases can drag on for years without being directly uncovered,” he said.

He also called for broader cooperation from professionals across various fields, including accounting, engineering, medicine and law, to strengthen investigations and improve analytical capacity.

“Each background brings different perspectives and expertise that can help make investigations more effective,” he added.

-- BERNAMA