The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has adopted a distinct strategy for tackling corruption in Sabah and Sarawak, identifying the two East Malaysian states as hotspots due to large-scale development, complex enforcement environments, and geographic distance from Putrajaya.

“To me, Sabah is a goldmine for corruption cases,” said MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

The anti-graft chief said MACC’s strategy in East Malaysia differs significantly from that used in the peninsula, including the deployment of in-house integrity officers in key state departments.

“Actually, I prioritise Sabah and Sarawak. I don’t place integrity officers in the other states. Just these two,” Azam told reporters during a dialogue with Sabah media practitioners in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday.

He said the move reflects MACC’s need to stay close to developments on the ground, particularly given the volume of procurement and infrastructure projects under way across the Borneo states.

“I see the commitment from the state to work on this,” he said, referring to Sabah’s post-pandemic push to revive tourism, boost job creation, and accelerate infrastructure spending. 

“So infrastructure has to be improved, upgraded.”

Azam said the Sabah government has been open to collaboration, with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor allowing MACC to station an integrity officer directly in his office.

“When we place one officer in his office, then you need to listen to their advice… We are an independent agency. Whether you like it or not, he will advise you accordingly,” he said.

MACC’s Sabah-based integrity officers report directly to headquarters and are empowered to trigger investigations without state interference.

“If anything happens involving a breach of integrity, they report to us. If it’s criminal, we act. Even if it involves government officers or political appointees,” he said. 

He also noted that small-scale corruption can accumulate into significant national losses—especially in East Malaysia, where public infrastructure spending is rapidly expanding.

“You may think, ‘I don’t want to hear about this 1,000-toilet case.’ But it is for the public. Let’s say one toilet costs RM100,000. Multiply that by 1,000. That’s where the money goes.”

Azam added that MACC studies show procurement-related corruption can inflate project costs by 20 to 30 percent.

“Because they have to cover this kind of corrupt payment, the price goes up. So the country suffers losses,” he said.

He said MACC is also monitoring enforcement-related misconduct involving local and municipal authorities, which often results in public complaints.

“These are the places with the highest tendency for governance issues, mismanagement, and corruption,” he said.

Despite the risks, Azam said Sabah’s cooperation with MACC has been strong, including the formation of joint task forces and governance committees with the state. – April 10, 2025