GOVERNMENT institutions must continuously demonstrate that they serve the interests of all citizens and the nation as a whole, rather than those of select individuals or groups.
Nurul Izzah Anwar said public trust in the government remains a critical element in ensuring the success of policy implementation and effective law enforcement.
“Doing the right thing is not enough - the government must also be seen and believed by the public to be doing so.
“We are all aware of the extensive powers vested in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under its governing Act.
“The problem is that such powers, which were intended to combat corruption, are in some instances creating a climate where individuals are made to feel guilty for engaging in political rivalry or for daring to speak out,” she said.
When enforcement becomes excessive, opaque, or intimidating, the PKR deputy president said, it ceases to serve justice and instead begins to undermine democratic principles.
“There may indeed be legitimate grounds for scrutiny, whether in relation to the RM1.1 billion deal reached between the government and ARM Holdings, or the numerous investigations aimed at recovering illicit or ill-gotten funds to replenish the nation’s coffers.
“However, the high-handed manner in which some investigations appear to be conducted - including the public disclosure and circulation of home addresses for the world to see, while reportedly part of standard operating procedures, has to meet a higher benchmark of accountability,” she said.
Izzah said it must reflect proportionality, respect for privacy and institutional responsibility Indeed, no individual should be above scrutiny, but where significant public funds are involved — the public has a right to know who is following the money, and who is ensuring that those doing the following, are themselves accountable.
“The credibility of that fight depends on public trust. And trust grows only when institutions are seen to act fairly, responsibly and transparently.
“Credible allegations of corporate mafia that have entered public discourse — including questions surrounding the commissioner’s personal shareholdings and their potential conflict of interest — demand transparent answers, not silence.
“We must be careful not to allow gaps in credibility; through sufficiently unanswered allegations - to derail the larger and necessary national effort to combat corruption,” she said.
She stressed that this is precisely why stronger oversight mechanisms are needed. One constructive way forward is to strengthen parliamentary oversight of the MACC.
Regular reporting to Parliament, she said, would allow elected representatives to review the Commission’s work, while bodies such as the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) or a dedicated Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) could examine policies, procedures and major enforcement decisions, she said.
This proposal should be understood as complementary to the existing oversight structures under the MACC Act, including the Special Committee on Corruption and the advisory mechanisms established under Section 14.
“Those bodies play an important role, but their functions remain largely consultative and limited in scope.
“What is needed is a clearer line of democratic accountability where Parliament itself is able to review institutional practices and, where necessary, recommend improvements to the governing law,”.
Such oversight would not interfere with investigations, but it would help ensure that the law governing the MACC evolves with greater transparency and public confidence, she added.
“I have consistently sounded the alarm about the systemic risks such concerns pose, and will support moves to resolve them. Parliamentary oversight of the MACC is not an attack on anti-corruption efforts — it is their completion.
“Accountability must be universal, or it means nothing. Malaysia deserves institutions it can trust, and institutions worthy of that trust.” – March 7, 2026
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