PUTRAJAYA: Cracking down on diesel smuggling cartels, illegal electronic waste syndicates and the alleged misappropriation of humanitarian funds are among the major achievements recorded by graft busters led by Tan Sri Azam Baki since 2021.
Among the notable initiatives introduced during his tenure was the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS), a special armed unit formed on Oct 5, 2023.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Strategic Communication Division director Hisyam Mohd Yusoff said ACTS was created to handle high-risk operations, including high-profile corruption cases, while enhancing the commission’s tactical capabilities through the use of modern equipment and specially trained officers.
He said the MACC had also strengthened the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Task Force (MATF), which was formed in 2018 following the exposure of the 1MDB scandal.
“The cases are coordinated by the MACC together with agencies such as the Inland Revenue Board, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
“MATF has become a key platform in combating corruption, smuggling and money laundering, while also helping recover national revenue,” he said in a statement on Monday (May 11).
Hisyam said among the major operations conducted under MATF were Ops Metal and Ops Nature, which uncovered illegal e-waste and plastic waste syndicates that allegedly caused more than RM950mil in losses to the country over six years.
He said the operations also led to the freezing of 16 bank accounts worth more than RM10.2mil and action against senior Environment Department officers.
He added that MATF also succeeded in crippling a diesel smuggling cartel worth RM247mil through Ops Karen in September 2025.
“A total of 498 bank accounts worth about RM110mil were frozen, while five vessels valued at RM52mil were seized, along with 4.5 million litres of diesel worth RM9.7mil,” he said.
Hisyam also said the MACC uncovered the so-called “Flying Container” case at Port Klang, which allegedly resulted in RM3.5bil in leakages of national revenue over a decade.
The operation also saw the seizure of RM4.4mil in cash from customs officers allegedly linked to the case.
From an investigative standpoint, he said the MACC introduced intelligence-based investigations (IBI), a proactive approach that uses intelligence gathering and data analytics to detect crimes before reports are lodged.
“The approach focuses on syndicated corruption and grand corruption cases through the use of financial forensic technology to trace fund flows.
“IBI has also been credited as one of the factors contributing to the MACC’s 95% conviction rate and has become the foundation for the agency’s operational modernisation,” he said.
Specialised training programmes were also introduced through the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy (MACA) to strengthen officers’ expertise.
Among the major successes attributed to the IBI approach was the exposure of the “counter setting” syndicate at airports after six months of intelligence gathering, which led to large-scale raids, the arrest of dozens of enforcement officers and seizures exceeding RM9mil involving gold, luxury vehicles and cash.
Hisyam said the MACC also focused on grand corruption and national asset recovery, including the recovery of about RM31bil, or 70% of funds linked to 1MDB, making it among the highest asset recovery rates in the world.
Investigations also involved the Jana Wibawa case, where cash flow analysis was used to trace alleged misappropriation of project funds, as well as several high-profile cases involving political figures that resulted in the seizure of substantial assets and cash.
“The MACC also dismantled corporate mafia networks involving professionals such as lawyers and accountants acting as enablers for smuggling and tax evasion syndicates.
“This included Ops Sky, which saw 16 individuals charged, 98 bank accounts containing RM17mil frozen and the seizure of various luxury assets,” he said.
On national security matters, Hisyam said Op Sohor on Oct 14, 2025, exposed alleged activities involving military intelligence officers accused of leaking operational information to smuggling syndicates in exchange for RM3mil in bribes.
The case led to the prosecution of four senior officers.
“The alleged misappropriation of humanitarian funds involving Aman Palestin also drew public attention, involving 164 charges and estimated losses of RM39.5mil, in addition to the freezing of 11 bank accounts and the seizure of gold bars,” he said.
In terms of money laundering investigations, the MACC managed to recover about RM15.5bil in national assets between 2021 and early 2026 through cross-border financial tracking and beneficial ownership mapping.
As part of preventive measures, the MACC also introduced the Keep Malaysia Clean initiative together with the Anti-Corruption Advisory and Prevention Panel to strengthen a culture of integrity through the involvement of the public, non-governmental organisations and government agencies.
Hisyam said the overall achievements reflected a more aggressive, modern and intelligence-driven approach in strengthening the fight against corruption and restoring confidence in the country’s enforcement institutions.
