PETALING JAYA: The one week ultimatum from the Prime Minister to law enforcers marks a significant escalation in Malaysia's anti-corruption drive, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
Lee, who is a member of the Malaysian Integrity Institute, said this message from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim signals a move from "policy-making" to "personal accountability" for the nation's top enforcement leaders.
Previously, The Star reported on Wednesday (Jan 28) that the Prime Minister had issued a stern warning to enforcement officers, giving them one week to commit to an all-out fight against corruption and smuggling.
Anwar had also said that officers who are unwilling to take up the challenge may request for a demotion. He stressed that it is unacceptable for senior civil servants to continue tolerating smuggling, bribery and gangsterism.
He also stressed that it was important for all relevant enforcement agencies and departments to work as a team and ensure that the nation’s borders are protected from any form of smuggling.
“By giving agency heads exactly seven days to 'act or step aside', the Prime Minister is effectively removing complacency and reintroducing responsibility,” said Lee in a statement Thursday (Jan 29).
“He is publicly stating that if illicit activities like smuggling continue, it is not just due to "systemic failure" but because of the consent or negligence of the people in charge.
“His specific mention of the 'stars on their shoulders' is a direct challenge to the prestige of high-ranking officers in the police, Malaysian-Anti Corruption Commission (MACC), Customs, Immigration and others reminding them that their titles carry a moral and legal obligation.
“This ultimatum follows several major scandals currently unfolding in January 2026,” Lee said.
He noted that hours before Anwar’s speech, the MACC arrested five directors and business owners regarding crony company tenders at the Lumut naval base.
“A senior officer of the Malaysian Armed Forces was recently remanded for a RM150,000 corruption investigation,” he added.
“The persistence of these cases suggests that the 'mid-to-high' level enforcement layers have not yet fully aligned with the administration's goals,” he stressed..
Lee mentioned that this ultimatum suggests the need to move toward forced resignations or reshuffling of top leadership if results don't improve immediately.
“It is important to see if any department heads actually take the "step aside" option.
“As historically, high-ranking Malaysian officials rarely resign voluntarily due to performance,” Lee said.
