MALAYSIA’S anti-corruption agency has uncovered RM12 million in alleged bribe payments channelled through mule accounts over the past five years, in what officials describe as a systematic arrangement between enforcement personnel and transport middlemen.
Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said the transactions, detected under “Ops Middleman”, date back to 2021 and were intended to ensure that commercial vehicles avoided legal action by enforcement officers on duty.
“In this investigation, the MACC has also frozen 59 individual accounts believed to be mule accounts, involving RM7.7 million,” he said at a press conference at the commission’s headquarters on Wednesday.
He disclosed that four officers from the Road Transport Department and four traffic police personnel had been arrested, along with two company owners believed to be acting as ‘tontos’ — intermediaries who facilitate illicit payments — and one account mule.
“The total number of individuals arrested in this case is 18, and we have opened separate investigation papers for each suspect.
“In addition to cash in various currencies, including RM326,625, the MACC has also seized 25 luxury vehicles worth RM2.5 million and jewellery amounting to RM40,000,” he said.
Azam confirmed that, beyond the Road Transport Department, the MACC would be working closely with the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Malaysia Police as part of the operation.
“I have contacted the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Datuk M Kumar, and we will be meeting in the near future,” he said.
Daim’s Son Contacts MACC on ‘Ops Godfather’
In a separate development, Azam confirmed that Md Wira Dani, son of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, had contacted the MACC in relation to “Ops Godfather”, a separate ongoing probe.
“So far, one of them has contacted us, but we do not know the whereabouts of the other three.
“We have emphasised through their lawyer that the remaining three should contact us and attend our office as soon as possible,” he said.
Earlier reports stated that the MACC had sought public assistance in tracing four Malaysian nationals to assist in an ongoing investigation. The four individuals are family members of the former political and business figure.
Immigration authorities have reportedly indicated that records show the individuals left Malaysia at the end of January and in early February. - March 4, 2026
