KUALA LUMPUR, April 25, 2026 — Hundreds of protesters gathered in the city centre today for the “Tangkap Azam Baki” rally, pressing for the immediate arrest of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki and sweeping institutional reforms. The event proceeded as planned despite the government’s announcement of his impending replacement.
Organised by the #TangkapAzamBaki secretariat in collaboration with reform group BERSIH and other civil society organisations, the rally kicked off around 3pm outside Sogo shopping mall before participants marched towards Dataran Merdeka. Protesters braved intermittent rain and heavy police presence, chanting “Tangkap Azam Baki” and “Bangkit rakyat” while demanding three key actions: the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into alleged “corporate mafia” influence within enforcement agencies, Azam Baki’s arrest over long-standing shareholding and misconduct allegations, and structural overhaul of the MACC to protect whistleblowers and ensure independence.
In a video shared by BERSIH on X shortly after the rally began, BERSIH Chairman, Faisal Aziz speaker standing atop a vehicle delivered a fiery address to the crowd. “Rakyat berani bangkit kalau kamu pecah amanah!” (The people will bravely rise if you breach the public trust!), he declared, accusing Azam Baki of failing to uphold amanah (trust) and criticising successive governments — including references to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak — for not delivering genuine reformasi. The clip, which quickly gained traction, captured the emotional tone of the gathering as participants cheered and recorded the speech.
The rally came hours after news broke that Azam Baki’s contract, extended three times since 2020, will not be renewed when it expires on May 12. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is expected to select the next MACC chief from a shortlist presented by the government. Organisers, including BERSIH deputy chairman Kelvin Lee, confirmed the event would go ahead unchanged, stating their demands “still stand” and would be formally reiterated during the rally.
The gathering drew support from a broad spectrum of Malaysians, including youth wings from rival parties DAP Socialist Youth and MCA Youth, who participated independently in a rare display of cross-party unity on the issue of institutional integrity. PKR’s Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli also addressed participants, telling the crowd that even a modest turnout represented the voice of the nation’s 50 million citizens.
The otherwise peaceful assembly was briefly disrupted when firecrackers exploded near Sogo, causing momentary chaos and minor injuries. Police have confirmed they will call up organisers and participants to assist in investigations; unexploded firecrackers were later recovered at the scene.
Azam Baki has faced sustained public and media scrutiny over alleged breaches of public service rules, including ownership of millions of shares in a company and claims of undue influence within the MACC. Supporters of the rally argue that a mere leadership change is insufficient without full accountability and systemic reform.
As the march continued towards Dataran Merdeka under police watch, the #TangkapAzamBaki movement sent a clear message: public trust in Malaysia’s premier anti-graft body must be restored through decisive action, not just personnel reshuffles.
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