MACC Enhances Forensic Expertise To Fight Financial Crimes

By Mohd Adli Shahar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- Marking its 58th anniversary today, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) continues to reinforce its role as the nation’s primary enforcement agency in combating corruption and abuse of power. 

Despite facing an increasingly complex financial crime landscape that has cost the country hundreds of billions of ringgit through corruption and leakages, the commission has taken proactive measures to equip its officers with the latest training, particularly in forensic investigation.

MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the initiative ensures officers’ skills and knowledge are continually enhanced, enabling them to detect and track any corrupt transactions.

“This training also involves professionals and enforcement officers from other agencies in the country, helping to enhance knowledge, strengthen governance, and promote integrity within their respective agencies through shared expertise.

“To achieve this, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy (MACA) has been tasked with providing both internal and external training, including expertise exchanges with agencies at home and abroad,” he said in an exclusive interview recently.

Among them are Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between MACC and the Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (MAICSA), as well as with Asia e University, aimed at producing highly educated MACC officers through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL.Q) programme.

Since 2017, a total of 517 MACC officers have received accreditation from two prestigious programmes conducted in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University (NTU), namely the Postgraduate Diploma in International Law Enforcement: Anti-Corruption Leadership (Level 7) and the Professional Diploma in International Law Enforcement: Anti-Corruption Studies (Level 5).

Azam said the country has suffered significant leakages due to corruption, abuse of power, and fraud, with estimated losses of RM277 billion over the past six years, affecting public interest.

One of the main causes of these leakages is weaknesses in government procurement systems, particularly tender manipulation involving collusion between authorities and contractors for illicit profit.

“When corruption occurs in procurement, project costs are often inflated to cover bribery payments, placing a burden on the nation,” he said.

In this regard, Azam said MACC supports the implementation of the Government Procurement Act 2025, particularly provisions on the declaration of beneficial ownership to identify the real individuals controlling a company, preventing monopolies and cartel practices in government tenders.

On enforcement, from Jan 1 to July 31, 2025, a total of 728 investigation papers were opened, including 109 high-profile cases and 619 regular cases.

Private agencies recorded the highest number of investigation papers at 280, followed by federal government officers (198), the public (104), state governments (95), statutory bodies (38), and government-linked companies (GLCs) and political entities (13).

By offence, the investigation papers were distributed as follows: false claims (251), acceptance of bribes (239), abuse of position (89), money laundering (54), giving bribes (47), and others (48).

“During this period, 906 individuals were arrested, with 308 charged in court and 135 convictions secured,” he said.

From Jan 1 to Aug 29, a total of RM6.81 billion in assets were seized, RM31.71 million frozen, and RM5.73 million forfeited.

“MACC is now focusing on investigating large-scale, high-profile cases and syndicates, unlike previously when smaller cases were also included. The objective is to ensure corrupt offenders are brought to justice and that stolen funds are returned to the government for public benefit.

“It should be emphasised that MACC has never closed any case; some have been reopened following new information,” he added.

Azam also said MACC is prioritising asset recovery from corruption offences through the government’s proposed implementation of Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA).

He said the Cabinet Committee on National Governance, chaired by the Prime Minister, has agreed that the DPA-related Bill be tabled in the first session of Parliament next year.

“This law is practised in developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, allowing prosecutions to be deferred on the condition that responsible parties return assets or compensate for losses incurred.

“For example, if a river is polluted by a company’s actions, under a DPA the company would be obliged to remedy the pollution and compensate affected residents. Failure to do so could lead to prosecution,” he said.

He added that MACC is also developing a digital and artificial intelligence (AI)-based system capable of screening tender applicants to ensure a more transparent procurement process and reduce human interference.

-- BERNAMA