The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has intensified its investigation into former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, extending its reach abroad by partnering with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to identify and recover assets allegedly tied to him, his family, and close associates.
A source familiar with the case confirmed that MACC has already held several meetings with the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC), a specialised unit under the NCA in London. The cooperation aims to track funds and properties believed to have been transferred or acquired through suspicious means in jurisdictions including the UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Japan.
The collaboration builds on a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement formalised between Malaysia and the UK in December 2024, designed to streamline cross-border anti-graft efforts and asset recovery processes. The source explained that MACC is awaiting a consolidated list of overseas assets from UK counterparts before initiating forfeiture proceedings, mirroring the strategy used in the high-profile case of Tun Daim Zainuddin.
However, the process of tracing and reclaiming wealth across multiple jurisdictions is far from straightforward. Investigators must navigate complex international laws, varying enforcement mechanisms, and cooperation with multiple agencies. Despite these hurdles, MACC has pledged to carry out the investigation transparently and ensure that any unlawfully acquired wealth is eventually brought back to Malaysia.
As part of the probe, the commission has already summoned Mahathir’s two sons to declare both domestic and foreign holdings under Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009, as well as provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act. In January this year, it was reported that Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir declared assets valued at approximately RM1 billion, while Mirzan Mahathir disclosed wealth worth RM246.2 million.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki reaffirmed that the investigation remains active, with current focus on assets believed to be linked to Mahathir in the United Kingdom. He also reminded that failure to declare assets is a punishable offence under Malaysia’s anti-corruption laws.
This is not the first time the former prime minister has come under scrutiny. In April 2024, Azam confirmed that Mahathir was among several high-profile individuals investigated for failure to declare assets, which subsequently triggered the wealth declaration notices to his children.
With international cooperation now in play, Malaysia’s anti-graft agency appears determined to pursue the case beyond national borders, setting the stage for one of the most closely watched corruption probes involving a former leader.
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