The head of Malaysia’s anti-graft agency has raised concern that the public’s growing appetite for short-form content and sensational headlines is fuelling speculation, distorting facts, and interfering with MACC investigations.

“People no longer want to read long articles, novels, whatever, from the mainstream—it’s declining,” said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

“So what people like to read, they want to read the very short messages. What they want to see—short reads. Now TikTok has become so popular. And after that, they form opinions. This is a very dangerous situation.”

Azam said this culture of instant consumption is contributing to a wider issue of premature judgments by the public, especially when media coverage lacks context or depth.

He also cautioned against the belief that certain high-profile cases have “gone cold,” saying that public silence or a lack of headlines does not mean investigations are closed.

“The headlines is very important. When people look at… they try to look at the headlines first. So, the whole case is gone,” he said. 

Azam then cited the instance of a New Straits Times report today on the multi-million ringgit sand-mining scandal involving a subsidiary of Selangor Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), in which MACC has arrested several individuals and seized cash in both local and foreign currencies.

In addressing criticism that MACC is not forthcoming enough with updates, Azam said the agency has always maintained an open-door policy with the media.

“At the end of my press conference, I always ask, what’s the situation? Anything more to ask? You want to ask any more questions? Okay, I try to answer… But when you don’t ask, there’ll be no answer-lah. 

“And later, you come out in the media, headlines—as if you are hiding something. That’s not fair to MACC.”

Azam also warned that when investigations are prematurely judged in the public domain, it risks undermining due process.

“When people look at the headlines first, the whole case is gone,” he said. – April 10, 2025