Malaysia extends term of anti-corruption head by one year

Azam Baki’s previous reappointments as chief commissioner agency led to public debate about Anwar’s pledges to improve Malaysia’s governance

Malaysia extended the term of anti-corruption agency head Azam Baki, according to state media Bernama, in a move that is likely to draw criticism of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government.

Azam’s tenure as chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was lengthened by a year, the report said, citing a statement from Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar late on Friday. The appointment is effective May 13. An MACC spokesperson did not immediately confirm the reappointment.

This is the third time the chief commissioner’s term has been extended for a year since he turned 60 years old, and he is the first head of the agency to have his tenure lengthened beyond the mandatory retirement age.

His previous reappointments led to public debate about Anwar’s pledges to improve Malaysia’s governance. Non-governmental organizations and others have called for the MACC chief to be appointed by parliamentary committee, rather than by the king on the advice of the prime minister, saying the current method makes the chief commissioner beholden to the premier.

Bloomberg News reported in April that Anwar planned to extend Azam’s term by six months. The report cited people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.

Under Azam, the MACC opened investigations into at least three of Anwar’s adversaries and their families, including former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, while he declined to act on a politician’s complaint about share purchases by one of Anwar’s allies, Bloomberg News reported in September.

Four people familiar with the situation who asked not to be identified discussing confidential matters said at the time that both MACC officials and political allies of the prime minister were under the impression that the two men had reached an understanding: Azam would have his term extended as MACC chief commissioner in return for taking action against Anwar’s opponents.

Azam and Anwar denied they had an understanding and said the MACC operates independently of the prime minister.