KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has widened its investigation into former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s alleged overseas assets to include Switzerland, in addition to ongoing cooperation with authorities in the United Kingdom.
Confirming the matter, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the agency remained in close contact with the UK’s International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC), while also extending its scope to other jurisdictions.
"We are still collaborating with UK authorities, among them the IACCC, which is assisting us should there be any assets involving Dr Mahathir. There is no development yet," Azam told reporters at the Integrity and Leadership Day 2025 on Wednesday (Sept 24).
Asked if other countries were involved, he added: "Yes, we are also looking at other countries such as Switzerland. At the moment, the two countries are the UK and Switzerland."
On Sept 11, Dr Mahathir in a Facebook post said he was puzzled by reports quoting Azam that Malaysia was working with foreign authorities, particularly those in the UK, to examine his assets.
The 100-year-old leader alleged that the probe was politically motivated and a deliberate attempt by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to delay a defamation suit he had filed.
Dr Mahathir claimed Anwar had requested two weeks to respond to the lawsuit but that two years had passed without the case reaching Court.
In May 2023, the former premier filed a RM150mil suit against Anwar over remarks suggesting he had accumulated wealth for personal benefit during his tenure as prime minister.
On April 17 this year, it was reported that Dr Mahathir would proceed with legal action after Anwar failed to respond to a letter of demand for an apology over the statement made on March 18, 2023.
On Sept 9, Bernama quoted sources as saying the MACC was working with British authorities to trace and recover assets allegedly linked to Dr Mahathir, his family and associates.
According to the report, the MACC has held multiple meetings with the IACCC, a unit under the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), in connection with the case.
The cooperation follows a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement signed between the MACC and NCA in December 2024 to facilitate international asset recovery and anti-corruption measures.
The broader investigation reportedly covers assets suspected to have been parked in Canada, Switzerland, Japan and the UK.
Dr Mahathir has consistently denied the allegations, insisting he does not possess extraordinary wealth and describing the claims as politically motivated.
