The chief of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) wants to take on an international appointment, and many people, including those from civil society organisations are very concerned, saying it would be a great loss to the MACC and the nation. There is some speculation he has been removed because of his involvement in certain controversial cases. On top of that, some quarters are using this opportunity to call for an independent MACC to fight graft. The minister in charge of integrity issued a statement that Putrajaya would ensure “his successor should be a person of the highest personal integrity, with intimate knowledge and extensive experience in the intricate workings and methods of combating corruption.”
But wait a minute, is the MACC so fragile that it is highly dependent on the chief of the commission to function effectively? Are the standard operating procedures not put in place such that the commission is a sustainable going concern? Do they not have the technical and management expertise to run the organisation? Has it not got an effective governance structure and operating model? If any of the above is not so, then this commission is a candidate for institutional strengthening.
