KUALA LUMPUR - The government was urged to carry out a comprehensive overhaul of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) system on Saturday, with speakers stressing that a mere change of leadership is not enough to restore public confidence in the agency.
Petaling Jaya Member of Parliament Lee Chean Chung called for immediate institutional reform, saying that a leadership change alone falls short of what is needed.
"Systemic change must be implemented immediately because a change of leadership alone is insufficient.
"As long as the system is not changed, whatever any individual says will continue to be doubted. We want comprehensive change," he said while addressing the "Tangkap Azam Baki" rally here on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Muda president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz reiterated her stance that the MACC should be placed under Parliament to ensure the institution's independence from any form of outside influence.
She said the move is crucial to guarantee transparency and accountability in the conduct of corruption-related investigations.
This rally marks the second such gathering held this year, following the controversy over shareholdings linked to outgoing MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki, as well as allegations related to the manipulation of corporate takeovers.
It is understood that participants had initially planned to march from the Sogo shopping complex to Dataran Merdeka, however the procession did not proceed as planned and the crowd remained concentrated around Jalan Raja and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
Among the leaders present were Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, Khoo Poay Tiong, Tan Yang Pang, Khairul Nadzir Helmi, Na'im Brundage, S. Arutchelvan and P. Ramasamy.
Earlier, the government announced the appointment of former High Court judge Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman as the new MACC chief commissioner, effective May 13.