KUALA LUMPUR: Combating corruption requires more than laws and enforcement, demands strong leadership, systemic reform and a whole-of-society commitment to integrity, says Tan Sri Azam Baki.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner said corruption has evolved over the past four decades from small, isolated cases into complex, cross-border crimes involving sophisticated financial networks and technology.
“Corruption today is no longer confined to isolated acts but has grown into organised and transnational activities,” he said in his keynote address at the Wacana Ilmiah Perdana programme on Tuesday (April 7).
Azam stressed that corruption stems not only from legal violations but also weaknesses in governance systems, particularly during Malaysia’s rapid development phases when integrity received less emphasis.
“While laws can punish wrongdoing, only integrity can prevent it,” he said.
He noted that enforcement alone is insufficient, with MACC adopting a three-pronged approach focusing on enforcement, prevention and efficient management.
Azam said leadership and strong political will are critical in ensuring the success of anti-corruption efforts, citing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024–2028 as a key framework to strengthen governance and accountability.
“To tackle increasingly complex risks, we are shifting towards a proactive, data-driven approach, including the use of analytics and a Corruption Risk Register to identify high-risk sectors.
“Our goal is to build systems where corruption becomes difficult to occur,” he said.
He also highlighted education as essential in cultivating integrity, pointing to initiatives such as the Wira Anti- Rasuah campaign and the compulsory Integrity and Anti-Corruption Course (Kiar) in higher education institutions.
Azam stressed that collaboration across government, private sector, media and the public is crucial, particularly in addressing organised and cross-border corruption.
He acknowledged that public trust remains a challenge, noting that it must be earned through transparency and consistent action.
Addressing the younger generation, Azam warned against normalising corruption, saying integrity is built through daily choices.
“Corruption will not end through fear of punishment, but through the courage to choose integrity,” he said.
