The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) is deeply alarmed by the recent trajectory of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which increasingly appears to have digressed from its mandate of anti-graft enforcement to becoming a tool for political intimidation and institutional doxxing.
The recent public ‘hunt’ for James Chai, an ordinary citizen and former aide to the former economy minister Rafizi Ramli, marks a dangerous new low.
By publicising a “search notice” that included the address of his family home – where his elderly parents reside – despite Chai’s assertion that he was never directly contacted for any investigation, the MACC has engaged in deliberate shaming and to create a perception of guilt.
This is not standard investigative procedure and can only be described as institutional doxxing aimed at tarnishing reputations
Bersih notes with concern that this escalation comes as many parties, including Rafizi, remain vocal advocates for institutional reform and most recently spoke at the #TangkapAzamBaki rally organised by civil society and student activists.
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The timing suggests a retaliatory pattern where the MACC is weaponised against those who demand its accountability.
Using the commission to target political staffers under the guise of ‘national interest’ while ignoring the rot at the top of the commission itself is a betrayal of the Reformasi spirit.
Public confidence in the MACC has reached a low point following the recent Bloomberg investigations exposing alleged “corporate mafia” links within the agency and the lingering questions over Chief Commissioner Azam Baki’s shareholdings.
Instead of addressing these grave allegations transparently, the state has chosen to:
- Harass journalists by sending police to Bloomberg’s local offices to track down investigative reporters
- Frame legitimate investigative journalism as a “foreign plot”, a tactic taken directly from the Najib Razak era playbook during the 1MDB scandal when he cracked down on media and activists invoking “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” to preserve his political survival following the Wall Street Journal’s 1MDB reports
Bersih finds it profoundly ironic that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who once benefited from the unwavering support of international media and human rights organisations during his own political persecution, now presides over an administration that labels legitimate investigative journalism by international media as ‘interference’.
To dismiss reports of corruption as a conspiracy to topple the government is an attempt to deceive the people. The prime minister must remember that he was once the victim of the very same laws and institutional weaponisation he now allows to persist.
In the light of this systemic failure, Bersih reiterates our demands:
- Azam’s immediate resignation: His continued presence as chief commissioner is no longer defensible and continues to damage the reputation of the MACC.
- Immediate reform of the MACC: The reform of the appointment process for the chief commissioner of the MACC must be scrutinised by a parliamentary special select committee to ensure bipartisan and integrity-based oversight.
- Stop harassment against James Chai and journalists: Cease the use of a the “Notice to locate” as a tool for public shaming and end all forms of intimidation against the media. The MACC’s modus operandi creates the perception that a party is already guilty before any transparent investigation has taken place.
- Establish immediately an independent panel or a royal commission of inquiry to investigate all outstanding allegations, including claims of a “corporate mafia” within the MACC.
Anwar and the “Madani” (trustworthy) government cannot claim to be fighting corruption while shielding its top enforcement official from the same level of scrutiny selectively imposed on others.
To date, the Madani government has failed to demonstrate effective leadership in investigating Azam through a body that is independent and free from executive interference. – Bersih
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