AZAM Baki has been appointed as the new chief commissioner of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), announced the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today.

He will be replacing Latheefa Koya who had tendered her resignation last week.

Azam’s appointment sees him being promoted internally from his current position as deputy chief commissioner (operations).

His appointment comes into effect today.

Azam, 57, has more than 30 years’ experience serving the anti-corruption agency.

He started his career with the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) in 1984 as an assistant investigations officer at the intelligence division and served at the agency’s Perak office in 2000.

In 2007, Azam was transferred to ACA headquarters where he led the special task force investigating the Port Klang free trade zone scandal.

In the same year, he was promoted to director of the intelligence division.

In 2015 he was made the director of the investigations department.

Azam was made deputy chief commissioner (operations) in 2016.

The PMO statement added that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had accepted Latheefa’s resignation and thanked her for her service.

Latheefa announced her resignation on Friday, saying she was returning to her practice as a human rights advocate, just over eight months after helming MACC.

She said she informed Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin of her intention last Monday and met him again on Friday yesterday to explain her decision.

“It was my own decision to do so. Speculations that pressure was brought upon me are baseless.

“My intention is to return to my practice as a human rights advocate,” she had said in a statement.

She also said that it would be business as usual at the MACC despite her resignation, including ongoing efforts to recover 1Malaysia Development Berhad funds from abroad.

Latheefa, 47, was appointed by the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government under Dr Mahathir Mohamad for a two-year term beginning June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2021.

She is the second high-ranking political appointee to resign following the change of federal government early this month.

Two weeks ago, Tommy Thomas stepped down as attorney-general just days after Dr Mahathir’s resignation.

Latheefa and Thomas played a vital role in PH’s efforts to investigate corruption under the previous Barisan Nasional administration. – March 9, 2020.