CSOs Demand Transparency On MACC Investigations Into The DG Of Environment Over E-Waste Management

Lai Cheng March 24, 2026 0 Comments

On 29 January 2026, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained the Director-General and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Environment (DOE) to assist investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of power linked to electronic waste (e-waste) management. According to the MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, the arrests were made after the officials presented themselves at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.

The allegations concern systemic irregularities in e-waste management, a sector critical to Malaysia’s environmental integrity and public health. Mismanagement or corruption in this area risks exposing communities to hazardous waste, undermining Malaysia’s commitments to sustainable development, and eroding trust in environmental governance.

According to media reports, as of early February 2026, the MACC had frozen 16 bank accounts containing RM10.2 million, along with another RM1 million in related corporate and individual accounts and that cash totalling over RM170,000 and valuables worth RM220,000 were also seized.

We were also informed that in early March 2026, the MACC announced it had submitted investigation papers to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) with a recommendation to formally charge the top DOE officials.

However, since then, no further details have been made transparent and it is not clear whether the DOE’s top officials have been suspended pending the formal charging of the officials concerned. Allowing them to continue to be in office raises serious issues over evidence tampering and compromise prosecution efforts.

Given the above, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) therefore demand:

  • Immediate Status Update: MACC and the Attorney- General’s Chambers (AGC) must disclose the current status of matters, including on when the officials will be charged.
  • Interim Safeguards: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment must clarify what administrative measures have been taken to prevent conflict of interest or further abuse of power while investigations are ongoing.
  • Public Accountability: Regular updates must be provided to the public, ensuring transparency and reinforcing confidence in Malaysia’s anti-corruption and environmental protection institutions.

Malaysia’s environmental leadership cannot be compromised by opacity or delay. The public deserves clarity on how corruption allegations at the highest levels of the DOE are being addressed.

We call upon MACC, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) and the Ministry to act decisively, transparently, and in full alignment with principles of good governance and environmental justice.

 

 

Meenakshi Raman
President
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)

 

Pushpan Murugiah
Chief Executive Officer
Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)

Press Statement, 24 March 2026