LARGE-SCALE organised crime is the main target of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as it ramps up efforts to put an end to illegal syndicates, the New Straits Times reports.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the agency is also working hard to recover government funds that have been stolen, he added.

“It’s not that we are no longer investigating small-scale corruption but we see more urgency to investigate syndicated crime,” said Azam, who was speaking to the English daily in conjunction with MACC’s 56th anniversary.

“So we would investigate (such cases) and charge (the suspects), but we are also ramping up efforts to recover funds that have been siphoned off, such as the 1MDB case in which we periodically announce the retrieval of funds.

“There were also other cases where we didn’t charge the criminals but we instead won big in the recovery of government funds.”

He said MACC has the responsibility to recover money stolen from the country.

“The rakyat may not understand as they could feel it is more important to charge the criminals than to  recover the assets. It’s not that it’s not important (to catch criminals) but it would be better if we could save the costs of a trial that could take years and recover siphoned money

“This is what the developed countries are doing,” he said.

Azam said that the commission was working with other agencies to solve big crimes and recover funds.

“MACC has invited other agencies, such as the Inland Revenue Board, to investigate big cases together.

“Other agencies can help us with their expertise. We have also worked with other agencies from abroad, such as in Op Tropicana.” – October 1, 2023.