Malaysia Bar backs inquiry into anti-corruption agency after courts find evidence of witness pressure

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The Malaysian Bar has backed calls for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into allegations involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), citing judicial findings concerning the conduct of MACC officers during investigations.

In a statement issued on 22 September 2026, Malaysian Bar President Anand Raj said the calls for an RCI had grown across Malaysia’s political and civil society spectrum.

Those calling for an inquiry include the then-Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Digital Minister Gobind Singh, 34 Members of Parliament from across the political divide, the Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, PAS), and more than 50 civil society organisations.

The organisations include the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) and the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH).

Judicial findings cited by Malaysian Bar

The Malaysian Bar pointed to findings by the Court of Appeal (COA) and Federal Court (FC) in Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman v Public Prosecutor.

According to the Bar, both courts noted that certain witnesses had been subjected to improper pressure during MACC investigations to tailor their evidence to suit the prosecution’s case.

In a supporting judgment affirming the acquittal, Federal Court judge Justice Dato’ Collin Lawrence Sequerah said there was credible evidence that several witnesses had been subjected to improper pressure by MACC officers.

Justice Sequerah wrote that the evidence included testimony from PW13, PW10 and DW12, while PW12, the wife of PW13, had lodged a police report concerning the matter.

He further agreed with the Court of Appeal that unexplained inconsistencies in PW13’s evidence, together with evidence of improper pressure on other witnesses, supported a reasonable inference that PW13 had been constrained to tailor his evidence to the prosecution’s case.

The Malaysian Bar said the findings were significant because they came from Malaysia’s highest courts and concerned the conduct of MACC officers during an investigation.

Questions over complaints and oversight

The outcome of the police report lodged by PW12 remains unknown, according to the Malaysian Bar.

The Bar also said the outcome of a formal complaint lodged by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman with the then-MACC Chief Commissioner remains unknown.

The organisation said the judicial findings concerning MACC officers had further contributed to concerns over public confidence in the anti-corruption agency.

The Bar argued that the developments demonstrated a need to examine existing oversight arrangements and the safeguards governing MACC investigations.

Longstanding calls for institutional reform

The Malaysian Bar said its calls for institutional reform of the MACC predated the latest controversy.

On 28 July 2015, the Malaysian Bar, C4, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), Citizens’ Network for a Better Malaysia (CNBM) and Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) submitted a joint memorandum proposing reforms to strengthen the MACC’s ability to comprehensively address corruption.

The Bar said it subsequently submitted further proposals to the Government in 2018 and again in 2023.

Those proposals included establishing an Anti-Corruption Service Commission through a constitutional amendment and strengthening the independence of the MACC.

They also called for stronger whistleblower protection and greater institutional safeguards to ensure the proper functioning of the commission.

The Bar said those proposals had not resulted in institutional changes.

Call for an RCI and structural reform

Against the backdrop of the Syed Saddiq case, the Malaysian Bar said there was a pressing need to reform the MACC in accordance with due process expectations and the rule of law.

It said it agreed with calls from the Transport Minister, Digital Minister, 34 Members of Parliament, PAS and civil society organisations for the Government to establish an RCI.

The proposed inquiry would examine the judicial findings and allegations of misconduct involving MACC officers, while assessing the effectiveness of existing oversight mechanisms.

The Malaysian Bar also said the RCI should make recommendations for structural reforms, including the creation of an independent Anti-Corruption Service Commission.

“The Malaysian Bar agrees with the call ... for the Government to establish an RCI to thoroughly investigate the judicial findings and all allegations of misconduct,” the organisation said.

It also called for the inquiry to evaluate existing oversight mechanisms and recommend structural reforms.

The Bar concluded that the need for institutional change was no longer a matter that could be deferred, stating that “reform is long overdue”.