Datuk Seri Azam Baki was appointed the new Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), effective today.
Azam, who was the Deputy Chief Commissioner, takes over from Latheefa Koya, who resigned as MACC’s head on March 6.
Azam’s appointment sees him being promoted internally from his current position as deputy chief commissioner (operations).
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has consented to Azam’s appointment and to Latheefa Koya’s resignation from the post.
“The government greatly thanks Latheefa Beebi Koya for her service to the nation throughout the time she held the post of MACC chief commissioner,” the PMO said in a statement.
Latheefa submitted her resignation last week, following in the footsteps of Tan Sri Tommy Thomas who departed as the attorney general shortly after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepped down as the prime minister.
Latheefa and Thomas played a vital role in Pakatan Harapan’s efforts to investigate corruption under the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
Azam, 57, had been Latheefa’s deputy and was the acting chief of the MACC prior to his confirmation today.
He has more than 30 years’ experience serving the anti-corruption agency.
He started his career with the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) in 1984 as an assistant investigations officer at the intelligence division and served at the agency’s Perak office in 2000.
In 2007, Azam was transferred to ACA headquarters where he led the special task force investigating the Port Klang free trade zone scandal.
In the same year, he was promoted to director of the intelligence division.
In 2015 he was made the director of the investigations department.
Azam was made deputy chief commissioner (operations) in 2016.