KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia appointed on Saturday a former high court judge as the country’s new anti-graft czar to replace its outgoing chief who was dogged by allegations of abuse of power and illegal shareholding.
The appointment of Abdul Halim Aman comes as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government faces increased scrutiny on promises made to tackle corruption in the Southeast Asian nation.
“The government is confident that with his extensive experience and high integrity, (Abdul) will be able to strengthen governance, enhance public confidence and intensify anti-corruption efforts in the interest of the nation,” Chief Secretary to the Government, Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said Saturday.
Abdul is set to replace Azam Baki who has been at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) helm since 2020.
Azam has faced several allegations during his tenure, including that he improperly held shares in a public listed company.
