Malaysia’s Anwar promises ‘full disclosure’ as ‘corporate mafia’ scandal grows

The government will publicly release findings on alleged corruption and coerced takeovers involving senior officials within three months

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Joseph Sipalanin Kuala Lumpur

Published: 2:31pm, 20 Oct 2026

Malaysia’s government will publicly release the findings of a special task force on corporate malfeasance in three months, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday, as his administration seeks to appease public anger over its perceived failure to clamp down on corruption.

Anwar is facing a reckoning in the final stretch of his term after his ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition was handed bruising defeats in three state elections over the past year. Former supporters have accused the coalition of abandoning its promised reforms in favour of a political compact with former ruling party Umno.

Public discontent has been compounded by allegations of a so-called “corporate mafia” involving officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), who were alleged to have coerced stake sales and corporate takeovers.