As public servant whistleblowers, we have lost all faith in MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki. More critically, we have lost faith in MACC as an institution: we cite four quotes below as justification.

Today’s political cowardice means that public servant whistleblowers live in deep humiliation. Whistleblowers do the honest, hard work of investigations, evidence-gathering, and testifying in Court & disciplinary proceedings to save the nation, yet we receive virtually no protection. Meanwhile, today’s senior public servants and Federal politicians find loopholes to damn us.

You will notice not one Federal Minister ever acknowledged Cikgu Nurhaizah Ejab, the High Court whistleblower teacher and active public servant in Kota Belud, Sabah. At great personal risk from the Government’s structural violence, she captured years of evidence of breaches of law and vast misconduct in rural Sabah schools. Until now, the Government has refused her any whistleblower protection, leaving her at risk of disciplinary, civil, and criminal retribution by vengeful perpetrators.

For decades, all politicians & senior public servants claimed they—not whistleblowers—were the only forces that could eradicate corruption, and thus they deserved electoral & career protection. Yet, when the time for justice came, they hid behind excuses such as “let us study it first”. Meanwhile Cikgu Nurhaizah’s quick whistleblowing proved justice only requires bravery & integrity.

Thus, it is clear why this Government—and especially the Ministry of Education—has never publicly praised Cikgu Nurhaizah, nor even acknowledged her existence: her comprehensive and astonishing whistleblowing exposed the farce and cowardice of our Federal Cabinet. This Cabinet praised MACC Chief Azam Baki and re-appointed him—twice. To any public servant whistleblower, our Federal Cabinet has plainly become the nation’s loudest cowards.

3 March 2023 | That said, on a cursory reading of the facts and upon examining the documentary evidence on record, it is blatant that any investigations commenced against Justice Nazlan [by MACC, under 1st Defendant Chief Commissioner Azam Baki] were done without regard to judicial independence as none of the above protocols appeared to have been followed.

Haris Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim & Ors V. Azam Baki & Ors. It is humiliating to be a public servant whistleblower under a Government of Cowards. Can they not say Cikgu Nurhaizah’s name?

8 January 2022 | Six members of the MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) have disputed their chairperson Abu Zahar Ujang's account relating to the shareholding controversy involving MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki. … Abu Zahar also declared no crime was committed nor was there a conflict of interest. …the ACAB members said this was not the board's position and Abu Zahar had only expressed his personal opinion. … The statement was signed by all members of the ACAB except for Abu Zahar.

MACC ACAB members dispute Abu Zahar's 'clearing' of Azam Baki. It is humiliating to be a public servant whistleblower under a Government of Cowards. Can they not say Cikgu Nurhaizah’s name?

22 May 2018 | Shukri completed two investigation papers on the RM2.6 billion and on SRC International. He said more than 100 witnesses had their statements recorded in the course of the investigation. … ‘My experience in investigating the SRC and 1MDB cases were frightening; I almost died.’ … Shukri said he was threatened with the sack, forced into early retirement and even received a live bullet. … ‘My intelligence sources told me that I would be arrested and jailed for attempting to overthrow the government. I then decided to leave for Washington,’ he said.

I was threatened, bullied, called a traitor, says MACC chief. It is humiliating to be a public servant whistleblower under a Government of Cowards. Can they not say Cikgu Nurhaizah’s name?

8 March 2017 | The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has set three years from now to eliminate corruption in the civil service, especially among enforcement agencies. Its Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Azam Baki said the three-year target was set in tandem with Malaysia becoming a developed country by 2020. … Also present was Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

MACC sets three years to clean civil service of corruption | Malay Mail. It is humiliating to be a public servant whistleblower under a Government of Cowards. Can they not say Cikgu Nurhaizah’s name?

We believe MACC, especially under Azam Baki, has lost the faith of public servants, whistleblowers, the judiciary, and honest Malaysians. In the least, his tenure must end. Further, our Ministers and MPs, lest they strive to keep their title as Malaysia’s loudest cowards, must table in Parliament simple laws to save Malaysians from Government’s hell of corruption, abuse of power, arrogance, and greed:

• Establishing an independent commission to appoint the MACC Chief Commissioner [source]
• Forbid MACC from sitting under Prime Minister’s Department nor the Executive Branch [source]
• Establish an independent Ombudsman to investigate misconduct, offer whistleblower protection, and take disciplinary & legal action if the Government fails to act [source]

Anything less is a bare, embarrassingly clear compromise and surrender. Anything less is total tolerance for total corruption. Anything less may well be a death sentence for whistleblowers.

“When clowns move into a palace, they don’t become kings. The palace turns into a circus.”