Malaysia's king says he will choose next anti-graft agency chief

Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim said on Thursday that he will select the next head of the country's anti-graft body, with the agency's current chief under growing pressure to resign over misconduct allegations.



Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), has faced sustained calls to step down following media reports in February accusing him and other senior officials at the agency of misconduct and breaches of public service rules.



Azam and the MACC have described the allegations as "baseless". The scandal has deepened rifts within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration, with some key allies questioning the premier's commitment to tackling graft.



The government has investigated some of the allegations against Azam but has so far declined to make the findings public, pending related probes by police and other authorities. Azam's contract with the MACC is due to end in May, according to media reports.



Sultan Ibrahim said there was no need for the appointment to be politicised, adding that the chief's role was important to ensure the agency's effectiveness in combating corruption, misappropriations and abuse of power, according to a statement from the royal press office.