KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 15): Civil servants made up the largest group of individuals arrested for accepting bribes in the past decade, while members of the public accounted for the most arrests for giving bribes, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

In a written parliamentary reply to Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut), Azalina said the MACC recorded 4,896 arrests for accepting bribes and 1,689 for giving bribes between 2015 and June 30, 2025.

Of those arrested for accepting bribes, public servants topped the list with 2,965 cases, followed by the private sector (1,101), members of the public (680), individuals from government-linked companies (119), and politicians (31).

For giving bribes, members of the public accounted for the highest number of arrests at 1,061 cases, followed by the private sector (511), government-linked companies (64), public servants (47) and politicians (six).

By ethnicity, Malays recorded 3,690 arrests for accepting bribes and 390 for giving bribes, followed by Chinese (494 accepting, 630 giving), Indians (263 accepting, 151 giving) and others (449 accepting, 518 giving).

By age group, those aged 40 and below accounted for 2,603 arrests for accepting bribes and 981 for giving bribes. The 41–60 age group recorded 2,097 (accepting) and 622 (giving), while those aged 61 and above had 196 (accepting) and 86 (giving).

Azalina noted that all arrests were based on information and complaints received, with investigations carried out under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

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