For years, Mahathir Mohamad positioned himself as Malaysia’s anti-corruption crusader. He built a political identity on targeting rivals, most notably Anwar Ibrahim, over graft and abuse of power. Now the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating him.
The probe, confirmed on May 9, 2024, by chief commissioner Azam Baki, places Mahathir among individuals under scrutiny in a wider corruption investigation. The MACC’s focus on the former prime minister marks a sharp reversal of roles. The man who long wielded anti-corruption rhetoric as a weapon now faces the machinery he helped empower.
From accuser to accused
Mahathir’s two eldest sons, Mirzan Mahathir and Mokhzani Mahathir, were ordered to disclose their assets in January 2024. That directive came after revelations in the Pandora Papers and Panama Papers, leaks that exposed offshore financial dealings of the powerful. The MACC’s attention to Mahathir’s family is not new — but the investigation’s acceleration is.
This is not a routine inquiry. The MACC is testing its own independence. For decades, the commission operated under an executive that picked its targets. Now it is investigating a former head of government. If the commission can pursue Mahathir, it can pursue anyone. If it falters, the message is clear: power still protects.
Anwar’s position
Current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has denied using anti-corruption efforts to settle scores. “The fight against corruption is a crucial aspect of our efforts to promote good governance and ensure that those in power are held accountable for their actions,” Anwar said. He served as Mahathir’s deputy before Mahathir had him imprisoned on sodomy and corruption charges in the late 1990s. The history is raw. The politics are personal.
Anwar insists impartial justice. But the investigation unfolds in a country where anti-corruption campaigns have historically been selective. Mahathir himself used the MACC to go after political enemies. The question now: will the same commission treat its former master with the same rigor?
What the investigation means
The MACC’s probe into Mahathir’s sons was the opening move. The Pandora and Panama Papers provided the trail. Now Mahathir himself is named. Azam Baki said the investigations must conclude before any official statements are made. That leaves a gap — between what is known and what can be said.
Mahathir is 98 years old. He returned to power in 2018, partly on a promise to clean up the corruption he accused predecessor Najib Razak of enabling. Najib is now in prison for his role in the 1MDB scandal. The irony is heavy: Mahathir helped bring down Najib over graft, and now the same anti-corruption apparatus is circling him.
The wider investigation has momentum. January’s asset disclosure order was a signal. The MACC is moving deliberately, building a case that touches the highest levels of Malaysian political life. Where it leads is uncertain. But the investigation into Mahathir is the strongest test yet of whether Malaysia’s anti-corruption drive is real — or just another tool for the powerful.
Anwar has staked his government’s credibility on impartial enforcement. If the MACC clears Mahathir, critics will call it a whitewash. If it charges him, it will be the most consequential corruption case since Najib’s. Either way, the outcome will define the commission’s reputation for years.
