PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki amid renewed public scrutiny over his shareholding transactions, insisting that due process and the right to respond must be respected.
Speaking to reporters after attending the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia’s Lunar New Year reception on Wednesday night, Anwar said Azam should be given the opportunity to clarify the matter.
“He is doing his job. Why attack him? We must listen to the explanations from all sides.
“We have to hear his explanation,” he said.
Azam has come under fresh scrutiny over his ownership of shares in several companies, prompting calls for greater transparency. He has previously stated that the shares were held through nominee arrangements and has denied any wrongdoing.
Earlier in his address at the event, Anwar underscored that Malaysia must be governed by the rule of law rather than “whims and fancy”, stressing that institutional processes must take precedence over emotion or public pressure.
He warned that actions driven by unilateral impulses or sentiment could erode social harmony in Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, adding that stability must rest on legal principles and mutual respect.
The Prime Minister also cautioned against any form of disrespect towards religious beliefs and cultural practices.
Referring to sensitivities surrounding dietary practices, including pork-related issues, he said Malaysia’s longstanding culture of coexistence must be safeguarded, noting that communities have traditionally respected one another’s customs without provocation or confrontation.
At the same event, ACCCIM president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng called for the creation of a dedicated National SME Transformation Platform to better coordinate and scale up existing government initiatives for small and medium enterprises.
He said SMEs are grappling with intensifying competition, rising operating costs, financing constraints and manpower shortages, necessitating structured and long-term support to facilitate upgrading and digitalisation.
Ng welcomed recent business-friendly measures, including improvements to tax refund processes, a reduction in service tax on rental and leasing services, the forthcoming pathway for direct hiring of foreign workers, and new festive and micro, small and medium enterprise financing schemes.
“To maximise their impact, we encourage continued efforts to ensure they are easily accessible, well-communicated and effectively channelled to operators who truly need them; and where demand is strong, to expand these allocations in scale accordingly,” he said. - February 12, 2026
