KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 16): G25 Malaysia, a Malay-Muslim group of former civil servants and individuals, has on Monday joined the growing call for the government’s task force reviewing allegations against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to be reconstituted and strengthened.

G25 Malaysia said it "strongly advocates for the appointment" of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI), noting that the current task force led by the Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar does not have the authority to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents when it comes to the investigation on the matter.

“Where allegations are grave and wide-ranging, an inquiry mechanism with full investigative powers is necessary to ensure that all relevant evidence is properly obtained and examined,” it said in a statement. Given the seriousness of the issues and widening public concern, the task force's composition and mandate must be enhanced to ensure independence, credibility and public trust, it added.

Currently, the task force consists of only three members alongside the Public Service Department director general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and Treasury secretary general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican.

G25 was of the view that the current composition of the task force should be expanded to five members with former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat chairing the panel, citing her judicial experience, independence and standing in the public eye.

The inclusion of a respected civil society representative as a full member would further strengthen the task force’s credibility, G25 said, adding that broader participation would demonstrate that the process is not confined within the executive branch.

“The Terms of Reference must be revised and expanded,” it said, stressing that the inquiry should not be restricted solely to technical questions of shareholding but must expressly encompass wider allegations, including claims that the MACC may have acted inconsistently with its statutory purpose.

Since the announcement of the task force, the civil society group said the controversy has “intensified rather than subsided”, with allegations expanding beyond initial questions of share ownership into broader claims regarding the agency’s conduct and governance.

The latest public outcry follows a Bloomberg report, citing Companies Commission of Malaysia records, that stated Azam held 17.7 million shares in Velocity Capital Partner Bhd (KL:VELOCITY). The controversy hinges on a 2024 government circular, which stipulates that civil servants may only hold shares in Malaysian-incorporated companies not exceeding 5% of the paid-up capital or RM100,000 in value, whichever is lower.

The foreign newswire’s subsequent report brought forth broader allegations concerning the MACC’s conduct and governance, claiming that a “corporate mafia” worked with MACC officers to gain control of companies by pressuring executives.

As an interim governance measure, G25 reiterated its call for Azam Baki to be placed on garden leave pending completion of investigations. It described the move as a safeguard to protect the integrity of the investigative process rather than a presumption of wrongdoing.

The measure, it added, should apply equally to any other MACC officers tied to the allegations to ensure fairness and preserve institutional integrity.

Without an independent chair, civil society participation, expanded membership, a broadened mandate and adequate investigative powers, the task force risks being viewed with scepticism, the group cautioned.

“In matters of institutional integrity, public perception is inseparable from legitimacy. A process seen as limited or insular will inevitably cast doubt on its findings,” it said.

G25 further warned that Malaysia’s economic resilience and attractiveness to investors are closely tied to the strength and integrity of its institutions.

“Investment decisions are shaped not only by the state of the economy but also by how well a country is governed and whether its laws are enforced fairly and consistently,” it said, adding that prolonged uncertainty without a credible and transparent resolution could weigh on investor sentiment and Malaysia’s international standing.

Describing the country as being at a “critical juncture”, G25 urged the Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led administration to demonstrate principled and decisive leadership by ensuring that any investigative body is independent in composition, comprehensive in mandate, equipped with sufficient authority and fair in its interim measures.
“Such action will reaffirm the government’s commitment to the rule of law and institutional accountability. Malaysians deserve nothing less,” it said.

In a separate statement, the Malaysian Bar has expressed concern over how allegations involving the MACC Chief Commissioner are being handled, saying the matter affects public confidence in institutions, not just individuals.

It clarified that it does not judge the allegations and that facts must be decided through proper legal processes.

However, it stressed that when the head of the anti-corruption agency is involved, the government’s response must be judged by one key question: does it strengthen or weaken public trust?

The Bar outlined four benchmarks for any review mechanism: independence from executive or political influence; transparency in scope and findings; timeliness in resolving the matter; and consistency with the rule of law, with equal standards applied regardless of rank.

“Accountability cannot be superficial, and a credible response requires thorough scrutiny, even where such scrutiny may be uncomfortable,” it said.

At a broader level, the Bar noted that the episode underscores the need to strengthen structural safeguards governing anti-corruption institutions, including enhanced parliamentary oversight, clearer conflict-of-interest frameworks and greater institutional autonomy.

“Sustainable confidence cannot depend on personalities; it must be anchored in systemic integrity,” it said.

Over the weekend, hundreds rallied for the arrest of Azam Baki, joined by political figures like former economy minister and Pandan member of parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Subang MP Wong Chen.