Azam Baki: 1MDB culprits must pay

(FMT) – Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki says the perpetrators of the 1MDB scandal must be brought to justice for their “evil” actions.

In his keynote address at the third Malaysia Anti-Corruption Forum 2022, the MACC chief commissioner stressed that there was still work to be done before the scandal can be put to rest.

“It is hoped that the people in this room will also join the call to demand that every perpetrator of this crime will pay for their evil actions,” he said.

Azam pointed out that Malaysia’s experience in recovering huge sums of assets had earned praise from many parties, leading to MACC officers sharing their invaluable experience on international platforms.

He said that in 2020 and 2021, MACC recovered RM19.11 billion in compounds and settlements, including repatriation of criminal proceeds in relation to 1MDB.

Azam said the agency opened 829 investigation papers (IPs) which led to 851 arrests in 2021.

In the first four months of 2022, he said MACC opened 376 IPs which led to 415 arrests.

He said MACC was kept busy during the pandemic with investigations related to Covid-19.

“We have not revealed this before, but MACC has been investigating bribery in the procurement of medical services and abuse of power in channelling relief aid and stimulus packages,” he said.

He said MACC also investigated fraud related to the supply of medical protective equipment – such as face masks and gloves – and bribery of enforcement officers supervising the movement control order.

“It is sad that even in this pandemic…some of these purchases are mired with corruption,” he said.

“This shows that there are some unscrupulous people who are still taking the opportunity to make money illegally from people’s pain and misfortune.”