“The prime minister has given an assurance that the report will be made public to ensure transparency and maintain public confidence in the integrity of the country’s enforcement institutions,” Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 26): The government on Monday pledged to publicly release a report by a special task force probing the “corporate mafia” allegations.
Led by Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, the task force is given three months to complete its investigations, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
“The prime minister has given an assurance that the report will be made public to ensure transparency and maintain public confidence in the integrity of the country’s enforcement institutions,” she told the Dewan Rakyat while winding up the debate on Budget 2027.
The task force, which includes Royal Malaysian Police, Securities Commission Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Inland Revenue Board, was announced on Oct 20 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to look into corporate crime.
The “corporate mafia” allegations came into the spotlight in a Bloomberg article Who’s Watching Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Watchdog? and centre around takeover of companies listed on Bursa Malaysia in collusion with officials from the MACC.
The MACC and the then chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki have denied the allegations.
Law Reform Commission
Azalina also said that the government is studying models for a proposed Law Reform Commission to review outdated laws, identify inconsistencies and gaps in legislation, and simplify legal language.
The Legal Affairs Division is assessing models suited to Malaysia’s legal and administrative framework, taking into account practices in England and Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India.
The proposed commission could also conduct research and comparative studies, hold public consultations and independently recommend legal reforms, including assisting in the preparation of draft bills for the government’s consideration.
The government is also examining the commission’s mandate, degree of independence, governance, funding and accountability mechanisms.
Azalina said the study would be followed by consultations with ministries, government agencies, the legal profession, academics and civil society.
The study’s findings and final recommendations will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration before further developments are presented to Parliament, she added.
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