KOTA KINABALU: Social activist and Integrity Institute member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has described the appointment of former judge Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman as the new MACC Chief as a momentous and encouraging step in Malaysia’s protracted battle against corruption and institutional leakages.
He said the most vital aspect of this appointment, however, is the candidate’s “lack of links to business and politics”.
“In an era where public confidence is easily eroded by perceptions of selective prosecution, a leader who has no corporate baggage or political affiliations is well positioned to act with true independence and integrity,” he said in a statement today.
Lee said for a nation that is deeply concerned about the integrity of its governance, this decision by the King reflects a clear understanding of the public’s expectations.
“We have reached a juncture where the credibility of our institutions depends entirely on the character of those who lead them,” he added.
Abdul Halim is set to replace Tan Sri Azam Baki, who has been at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s helm since 2020.
The MACC — a federal agency set up in 2009 to probe and prosecute graft in the public and private sectors — has powers to summon individuals, search and seize property and arrest suspects.
