MACC probes 87 graft cases in ministries, domestic trade tops chart

The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry recorded the highest number of corruption investigations among ministries, with MACC opening 14 cases over the past three years.

In a written parliamentary reply yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said stated that the anti-graft agency had launched a total of 87 corruption probes into several ministries between 2022 and Sept 26.

Coming in second was the Home Ministry, with 11 cases, while the Prime Minister’s Department and the Finance Ministry followed closely behind, with eight investigation papers each.

Citing data from the MACC, Azalina said other ministries with multiple investigations include the Education Ministry (eight), Defence Ministry (six), and Rural and Regional Development Ministry (five).

Several ministries also recorded no corruption cases during the same period, including the Youth and Sports Ministry, Digital Ministry, Works Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Plantation and Commodities Ministry, as well as the National Unity Ministry.

The Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry, as well as the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry, had also managed to avoid any corruption probes during the period.

Azalina revealed the figures in responding to a question from Bersatu’s Hulu Terengganu MP Rosol Wahid, who called on the government to state the number of corruption cases involving civil servants, with a breakdown of cases by ministries or agencies involved.

When contacted, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Ali said out of the 14 cases detailed in Azalina’s reply, seven had been pursued by the MACC during his tenure as minister.

“I am aware, through reports from the ministry’s Integrity Unit, of cases that have arisen since I began leading the ministry, covering the years 2024 and 2025.

“During this two-year period, a total of seven investigation papers involving civil servants in the ministry were opened by the MACC, two of which have since led to charges,” he said.

He noted, however, that since such cases come under the MACC, any statements regarding the progress of investigations are subject to the commission.

He also assured that the ministry remains committed to combating corruption and upholding good governance.

Nearly 5,500 complaints lodged

In a separate response to DAP’s Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Azalina detailed that between January and April this year, a total of 5,474 complaints were received from integrity units established within ministries and agencies.

“A total of 930 disciplinary actions were taken under the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993,” she added, noting that the figures were part of findings from the Integrity Unit’s First Term Report for the period.

The minister also said 948 monitoring activities on compliance with applicable laws and regulations were conducted in public agencies to ensure there was no opportunity or avenue for officers and staff to commit offences, whether criminal or disciplinary.

Further, a total of 2,586 awareness, training, and education programmes were coordinated and carried out to promote noble values, ethics, and integrity among agency officers and staff.

As of Aug 31, a total of 479 integrity units have been established in ministries, departments, and agencies at the federal and state government levels.

These include 28 in ministries, 105 in federal agencies, 11 at state secretary offices, 67 in state agencies, 86 among local authorities, 112 in federal statutory bodies, and 70 in state statutory bodies.

Azalina provided the figures to answer Tan’s query on the number of integrity units established in ministries, government departments, and local authorities, as well as their achievements to date in combating corruption and abuse of power.

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