KUALA LUMPUR: The complexities of managing seized immovable assets such as land and buildings dominated discussions at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner’s Roundtable 2025 held today.
The forum, organised by MACC, gathered representatives from enforcement bodies including the National Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) and the federal police Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) to explore solutions for handling assets confiscated in connection with criminal cases.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki highlighted that managing such assets often involves challenges such as mounting maintenance costs, outstanding bank loans, and depreciation in value due to lengthy court proceedings.
“If a seized property has bank debts or rental obligations, who is responsible for managing them until the case concludes? We often see vehicles or buildings deteriorate during this period, reducing their eventual sale value,” he said after officiating the event.
As secretariat of the inter-agency special task force under the Attorney-General’s Chambers, MACC is coordinating cross-agency discussions to find effective long-term solutions.
“We’re bringing all enforcement agencies to the table to address this pressing issue and develop strategies for future implementation,” Azam added.
The roundtable is part of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Division’s 2021–2025 Strategic Plan, designed to strengthen policy coordination, enhance inter-agency synergy, and establish best practices in the fight against money laundering.
This year’s focus is on improving coordination in the disposal of immovable property derived from crime, ensuring such assets are managed transparently, efficiently, and in the nation’s best interest.
Guest panellists included Professor Mohd Khairudin Abd Halim from Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Built Environment, Dr Siti Sarah Sulaiman from Universiti Teknologi Mara’s Law Faculty, and Jaiya Abu, director of the Land Legal Management Division at the Federal Land and Mines Department.
Azam stressed that asset recovery is crucial in tackling transnational financial crimes, noting it is both a domestic priority and an international obligation under frameworks such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
He cited previous MACC operations, including Op Metal and the seizure of assets linked to the highway fund misappropriation case, as examples aligning with these global standards.
“Recovering the nation’s misappropriated wealth is essential to restoring public trust in the justice system,” he said.
