Malaysia denies Anwar delayed disclosure of probe into MACC chief, threatens legal action

Malaysia’s government has said it “strongly denies” a claim made in a news report that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sought to delay the release of findings from an investigation into the country’s anti-corruption chief, and will take legal action over the allegation.The latest claim has sharpened scrutiny of Anwar, whose reformist image and anti-corruption credentials have come under strain amid a series of allegations involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and its chief commissioner, Azam Baki.Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources, that Anwar had urged officials not to immediately publish the findings of a special committee set up to examine Azam over questions linked to alleged illicit shareholdings.A high-powered special committee led by Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, chief secretary to the government, was formed in February following public anger over allegations concerning Azam’s shareholdings and whether they complied with civil service rules.The committee presented its findings to Anwar’s cabinet on March 11.Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s reformist image has come under strain amid allegations involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and its chief commissioner. Photo: dpaThe government said it “strongly denies the allegations” in Bloomberg’s latest report, and stressed that it had launched a review of Azam’s conduct over possible breaches of ethical and disciplinary standards for civil servants.