KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA February 25, 2026 – The Democratic Action Party (DAP) has doubled down on its call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate allegations of a “corporate mafia” operating within the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), with party chairman Gobind Singh Deo stating that the agency’s self-denial is insufficient to restore public confidence.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Gobind, who is also the Minister of Digital and Member of Parliament for Damansara, emphasized that “no one should be a judge in their own case.” He argued that an impartial and transparent probe is essential, given the specific nature of the claims, which name individuals, companies, and cases.
“The DAP will push ahead with calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to be formed to probe the ‘corporate mafia’ allegations made against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) by Bloomberg recently,” Gobind wrote. He added that the inquiry is not aimed at fault-finding but at reaffirming the MACC’s integrity and ensuring all enforcement agencies are subject to the rule of law.
The allegations stem from a Bloomberg investigation published on February 11, 2026, which claimed that MACC officials have been collaborating with a network of businessmen—dubbed the “corporate mafia”—to intimidate executives, conduct arrests, and facilitate corporate takeovers through threats and detentions. The report, based on documents and interviews with eyewitnesses, alleged that these tactics have been used to oust company founders and seize control of businesses.
MACC has vehemently denied the claims, describing them as baseless and originating from an anonymous online blog intended to discredit its investigations. The commission stated that the accusations could undermine public trust in its legal enforcement actions.
DAP’s push for an RCI follows similar calls from party secretary-general Anthony Loke, the Transport Minister, who on February 24 urged the cabinet to establish the commission, breaking ranks with Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar has defended MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, asserting that no action will be taken without concrete evidence.
As a key component of the ruling Unity Government, DAP’s insistence on an independent inquiry highlights potential internal tensions over governance and anti-corruption efforts. The government has yet to announce any formal response to the RCI calls.
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