MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki today said there are no plans yet to detain former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over allegations of corruption.

“We have no intention of arresting him yet since the investigation is ongoing,” he told reporters after attending the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy programme in Putrajaya.

On April 26, Azam confirmed that Dr Mahathir was among those being investigated over an asset declaration issue.

He had said Dr Mahathir’s sons Mokhzani and Mirzan had been issued notices to declare their assets under Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009.

They were later given 30-day extensions by the MACC owing to the extensive nature of their assets.

Azam also revealed that Malaysia lost about RM277 billion to corruption over the past five years.

“Such an amount could have been used for so many better things for the rakyat, especially by implementing social projects such as repairing schools and hospitals,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we’ve lost it due to corruption,” he said.

Meanwhile, Azam kept mum on the renewal of his contract as MACC chief commissioner, which ends this month.

“I do not want to speculate and I still have time until May 12, which is my birthday,” he said. – May 7, 2024