MACC Chief Files RM100 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against Bloomberg Over Share Ownership Report

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki, has officially initiated legal action against international news agency Bloomberg. The lawsuit follows the publication of an article regarding his alleged stock market activities, which he claims is both defamatory and misleading.

The legal dispute centers on a Bloomberg report published on February 10, 2026, titled “Malaysian Anti-Graft Chief Returns to Stocks After Outcry.” The article suggested that Azam held 17.7 million shares in Velocity Capital Partner Bhd, valued at approximately RM800,000.

Refuting Allegations In a Letter of Demand (LOD) issued through his legal representatives, Messrs. Zain Megat & Murad, Azam Baki categorically denied the claims. He clarified that while he previously held the shares, they had been fully divested in 2025.

“The report is irresponsible as it creates a false impression that I currently hold these assets, whereas my trading account is presently empty,” Azam stated. He further emphasized that all his investments were made using personal savings and retirement funds accumulated over nearly 40 years of public service.

Claims of Reputational Damage The MACC Chief is seeking RM100 million in damages, citing significant harm to his personal reputation and the institutional integrity of the anti-graft agency.

Azam also countered Bloomberg’s assertion that he had declined to comment on the matter. He revealed that his office had provided a formal response to the agency’s inquiries as early as January 14, 2026, which he claims was ignored in the final publication.

Adherence to Regulations Addressing concerns regarding transparency, Azam reiterated that his asset declarations were consistently updated via the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS), in full compliance with civil service regulations.

The legal notice was served to Bloomberg’s offices in both Kuala Lumpur and New York on February 12, 2026. Azam expressed his readiness to escalate the matter to court to defend his integrity against what he describes as “malicious reporting.”