Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency got a new chief on Wednesday with the arrival of Abdul Halim Aman, a former High Court judge handed the task of steadying an institution that has spent years chasing political heavyweights while struggling to shake questions over its own independence.
The 69-year-old took over as chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after Azam Baki ended a six-year tenure marked by headline arrests, asset recoveries and repeated political storms.
Abdul Halim’s appointment was announced late last month after Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim consented to his selection under a proposal put forward by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, according to Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
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The palace had earlier signalled a more active royal role in the process, with the king saying he would determine the “best candidate” to lead the agency. Malaysia’s constitution provides for such appointments to be made on the prime minister’s advice.
For Anwar, who came to power on an anti-corruption platform in 2022, analysts say the choice of a retired judge with no known political profile offers a reset for an agency that has become central to his reform credentials.
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