C4 Center

05/08/2026

Every further delay or abandoned promise only serves to erode the public's loss of confidence in PH and its mandate to govern.

04/08/2026

Three consecutive electoral drubbings paint a clear picture: voters are growingly disillusioned with a coalition that has repeatedly failed to deliver on many of its lofty promises or demonstrate commitment to the anti-corruption principles they claim to uphold.

It is not outrageous to claim that these humiliating back-to-back-to-back electoral defeats are entirely of Pakatan Harapan's own making. This is the inevitable consequence of a coalition that has repeatedly chosen political expediency over conviction to actually implement reforms, squandering every opportunity and ignoring calls for reform from civil society organisations and the public alike. Evident here is that public trust in PH has profoundly eroded, and three consecutive electoral defeats should leave the coalition in no doubt about the depth of public dissatisfaction.

To call it a “wake-up call” would be a massive understatement. With the 16th General Election fast approaching, every further delay, compromise, or abandoned promise only serves to assure the public’s loss of confidence in PH and their subsequent loss of the mandate to govern. These electoral losses must serve as a warning to all political parties and factions, both present and future, that Malaysians will not tolerate broken promises of a government that is complicit in corruption and has eroded our institutions of good governance.

31/07/2026

This Lembaga Tabung Haji saga has reinforced C4 Center’s longstanding contention that the practice of appointing politicians to federal statutory bodies, GLICs, and GLCs must end. Political appointments have long been criticised as a mechanism for rewarding political allegiance, consolidating patronage, and maintaining political loyalty.

Such appointments carry inherent corruption risks by entrenching crony networks and creating conflicts between political interests and the public good. It is well documented how politically-connected appointees have used their positions to advance the interests of the political parties or leaders responsible for their appointment, fostering relationships of patronage. In these circumstances, political considerations too often supersede the duty to uphold sound governance and prudent financial management owed to institutions entrusted with billions in public assets.

To reiterate, public institutions exist to serve the people, not politicians or political parties. Ending political appointments is essential to safeguard against corruption and a prerequisite for restoring public trust in institutions entrusted with the nation's wealth.

Therefore, to rectify these deeply concerning revelations, and to safeguard all statutory bodies, GLICs, and GLCs from future scandals, C4 Center strongly demands that:
• The government take heed of the RCI’s recommendation to amend the Tabung Haji Act 1995, prohibiting politicians from being appointed as Chairperson or to the board of LTH;
• The government put an end to the practice of appointing politicians in all statutory bodies, GLICs, and GLCs by introducing new legislation or amendments;
• The legislation of a Political Financing Act which includes mandatory public reporting of all political funds and the total prohibition of corporate and anonymous donors to prevent the misuse of public funds for political purposes.

31/07/2026

The government must end the practice of appointing politicians in all statutory bodies, government-linked investment companies and government-linked firms.

29/07/2026

BFM Guest: Arief Hamizan (Head of Research and Policy Advocacy), the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)

The government is due to announce whether the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Tabung Haji would be made public, 4 years after the investigation was concluded. This podcast episode discuss the significance of this decision and the need for accountability with Arief Hamizan of the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4).

The government is due to announce whether the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Tabung Haji would be made public, 4 years after the investigation was concluded. We discuss the significance of this decision and the need for accountability with Arief Hamizan of the Centre to Combat Co...

24/07/2026

C4 Centre has urged the government to explain how a RM178.29 mil contract was awarded to a company chaired by Azam Baki's brother, citing governance concerns.

23/07/2026

On 20 July 2026, The Edge Malaysia reported that Integriti Padu Sdn Bhd secured a RM178.29 million contract with the Ministry of Transport on 26 May. Nasir Baki, the brother of former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Azam Baki, is the executive chairman of Integriti Padu, owning 34% of its shares. The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) raises concern at these revelations, which call into question the governance and transparency of the government’s procurement practices.

The responses by both Azam Baki and Anthony Loke represent a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation from a governance perspective, and all the more shocking from a former anti-corruption chief. Azam’s implicit assertion that family members of public servants are unfairly persecuted for engaging in business is a mischaracterisation of the public’s concern on this issue. Public servants, especially those who are high-ranking, are placed under a greater degree of scrutiny because of the risk that their position could be abused for the benefit of themselves and their family. This scrutiny is necessary in ensuring that personal interests do not trump public interest – it is embarrassing that Azam does not recognise the inherent importance of this. Then again, the allegations regarding his own corruption scandals, both in a personal capacity and regarding the MACC’s “corporate mafia” during his tenure remain unsatisfactorily addressed.

Therefore, C4 Center demands that:
- The government must table amendments to the Government Procurement Act 2025. The concerns raised by civil society with regard to the weaknesses of the Act – namely its granting of wide discretionary powers to the Minister of Finance, the weaknesses of the appeals mechanism, and the lack of transparency obligations – must be addressed in these future amendments; and
- The government must disclose and publish the grounds for the contract award to Integriti Padu, specifically addressing the issue of whether the company’s relationship to Azam Baki was disclosed or not.

21/07/2026

HIRING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER!

C4 Center is looking for a Chief Executive Officer who will provide strategic and operational leadership for one of Malaysia's leading civil society organisations.

As CEO, you will be responsible for:
* Strategic planning and organisational management
* Policy, research, and advocacy leadership
* Stakeholder management and external representation
* Fund and grant management

To apply, send in your resume to [email protected] by 31 July 2026.

Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submissions are encouraged.

For more information: bit.ly/CeoC4center

15/07/2026

14/07/2026

Earlier on Monday (13 July), the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 was tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

While the move is historic in terms of public access to government information in Malaysia – only Selangor (2011) and Penang (2012) had FOI enactments at the state level – the current draft has sparked immediate uproar from rights groups demanding its withdrawal.

Within hours of the tabling, a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) – including the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), ARTICLE 19, and the C4 Center – issued a joint statement outlining the concerns they had with the Bill.

🖊️ Jake
🔎 Farah
🎨 Jessica
⬆️ Jessica