THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has lodged a police report in response to allegations published by Bloomberg claiming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim interfered in the agency’s operations.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, confirmed that the investigation paper prepared by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has already been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) for further action.
In a written parliamentary reply, Azalina reaffirmed that while freedom of expression is enshrined under Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution, it is not without limits.
“This right is subject to restrictions permitted under Article 10(2)(a) of the Constitution,” she said.
“The government remains committed to upholding this freedom in line with democratic values and constitutional principles. However, in cases involving defamation, such matters fall under Section 499 of the Penal Code, and there is no time limit imposed for initiating criminal action under this provision,” she added.
She was responding to a question by Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN–Besut) regarding the government’s position on legal action against Bloomberg over its report alleging state interference in a MACC probe into the stock purchases by a former political aide to the Prime Minister.
In September 2024, Bloomberg published a report citing unnamed sources that linked Anwar and MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to an alleged “orchestrated abuse of investigative powers” involving politically targeted MACC probes.
The 26 September 2024 report further claimed that Anwar had instructed Azam not to investigate his former aide, Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, over the latter’s acquisition of shares in HeiTech Padu Bhd. - August 21, 2025
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