Enforcement agencies are to blame for persistent corruption in Malaysia, said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad.

"The reason corruption and abuse of power still exists, among others, is that the enforcement agencies fail to fulfill their obligations," he said during a dialogue with senators at the Parliament building today.

As such, he urged the senators to declare corruption and abuse of power "public enemy number one".

Dzulkifli said various other issues including drugs, leakages in national income, illegal immigration and and border control problems stems from corruption and abuse of power by the enforcement officers.

He added that cases of corruption in Malaysia lowers its standing in the eyes of the world.

Dzulkifli, who came into power in July 2016 had earlier vowed to make anti-corruption a national agenda.

He vowed to ensure that an anti-corruption arrest or prosecution happens every week.

Several high profile suspects have been arrested and charged since Dzulkifli took over.

In February, former rural and regional development ministry secretary-general Mohd Arif Ab Rahman and his son was charged with corruption.

Johor exco member Abd Latiff Bandi was arrested and released on bail pending graft investigations against him, involving a bumiputera land scandal.

A "Datuk Seri" and his son, a "Datuk", was arrested last week over a land scandal in Penang, involving an Umno-linked foundation meant to secure bumiputera interests.