Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has urged the government to publicly account for the progress of investigations into the alleged “corporate mafia” scandal, saying prolonged investigations should not become a substitute for public accountability.
MUAR: Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has urged the government to publicly account for the progress of investigations into the alleged “corporate mafia” scandal, saying prolonged investigations should not become a substitute for public accountability.
Its president Dr Raymon Ram said the government stated that any decision to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) would depend on the outcome of ongoing investigations, and therefore should also explain the status of those probes.
He referred to a written parliamentary reply by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Azalina said any decision on an RCI into allegations involving the “corporate mafia” and shareholding issue linked to the former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner would be guided by the outcome of ongoing investigations and the legal framework under the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950.
She said the approach is necessary to uphold the rule of law, preserve the integrity of investigations and safeguard public interest.
TI-M said it agrees that any decision to establish an RCI should be based on facts established through credible investigations rather than speculation or public sentiment.
“However, if the government’s position is that an RCI must await the outcome of ongoing investigations, then the government must now account for the status of those investigations,” said Ram.
He said it has been almost five months since the allegations first surfaced publicly, during which the government established a Special Investigation Committee and tasked multiple agencies, including police, MACC, the Securities Commission Malaysia and Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, to probe the allegations.
TI-M said the findings would be made public once the necessary processes have been completed.
Ram said while acknowledging the need to protect the integrity of investigations, this should not result in an indefinite timeline.
TI-M called on the government to explain the current status of each investigative track, clarify the roles and scope of the agencies involved, state whether the Special Investigation Committee has completed its work and, if so, why its findings have yet to be released.
It also urged the government to disclose whether investigation papers have been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, their current status and what outstanding matters remain before a decision on an RCI could be made.
“These are not requests for confidential evidence or operational details.
“They are legitimate questions arising from the government’s own public commitments and its representations before Parliament,” said Ram.
He said TI-M is not making any finding of wrongdoing against any individual or institution, adding that the presumption of innocence and due process must be respected.
However, he said due process should not be equated with indefinite secrecy, adding that transparency and accountability are equally essential to maintaining public confidence in the rule of law.
TI-M maintained that if existing investigative processes failed to deliver timely, transparent and credible accountability, the case for establishing an independent RCI would become increasingly compelling.
The allegations of a “corporate mafia” first surfaced on a whistleblower blog before gaining wider attention through two investigative reports by Bloomberg, which cited MACC insiders and other sources.
The reports claimed that a group of prominent individuals had allegedly worked with the commission to influence corporate takeovers through extortion and the misuse of regulatory processes.
Former MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki has denied the allegations.
