KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has received an increased allocation of RM360 million under Budget 2025, a hike from its previous allocation of RM338 million.
In tabling the Supply Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) also announced that the National Audit Department will receive RM200 million compared to its earlier allocation of RM173 million.
The Legal Affairs Division also saw an upped allocation, with the division set to receive RM209 million compared to its RM 194 million allocation last year.
Similarly, Parliament will receive RM180 million under Budget 2025, an increase from its previous allocation of RM166 million.
Part of the funds for Parliament will be used to empower the roles of the Public Accounts Committee, the Dewan Negara’s Special Select Committee, and the Dewan Rakyat as check-and-balance entities.
The allocations, Anwar said, are part of his administration’s commitment to combat corruption, with the government giving the anti-graft agency “full freedom” to investigate and take stern action against offenders.
He noted that in 2020, there was a 20% increase in arrests and the opening of investigation papers by the MACC.
Regarding the increased allocation for the National Audit Department, Anwar said the additional aid fits the department’s expanded job scope, which will see it conducting audits on nearly 2,000 companies and entities that have received government funding and guarantees.
Meanwhile, more than RM60 million will be provided to upgrade the judicial system’s infrastructure, including the development of a digital system. – October 18, 2024