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THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is intensifying its crackdown on the misuse of public funds and procurement leakages through a coordinated, cross-agency strategy and strengthened systemic oversight, its Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said today.
Among the commission’s key priorities for 2025, Azam said, is enhancing scrutiny over procurement processes and enforcement mechanisms, particularly in sectors deemed high-risk for large-scale or ‘grand’ corruption.
“Recurring findings in the Auditor-General’s Report clearly highlight weaknesses in internal controls, creating opportunities for leakages, low-impact investments and payments made without a solid contractual basis,” he told Bernama when contacted.
The MACC is also focusing on “sick and abandoned projects”, which Azam noted as posing significant risks to national financial stability.
In a major step towards curbing financial crime, the commission has established an inter-agency Accounting Fraud Working Group comprising seven bodies: the MACC, the National Audit Department, Accountant General’s Department, Inland Revenue Board, Companies Commission of Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA, and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.
“The Accounting Fraud Working Group reflects our collective commitment to ensuring full accountability for every ringgit of public funds, while reinforcing coordinated action grounded in each agency’s expertise.
“We can no longer operate in silos, as if each agency were sailing its own ship toward an unclear destination. The working group serves as the strategic map that aligns our course and strengthens our joint navigation in tackling increasingly complex financial crimes,” Azam said.
He added that the MACC plays an active role in the Auditor-General’s Report Action Committee, taking follow-up action on audit findings that may involve elements of corruption or abuse of power. - May 20, 2025