His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has officially consented to the appointment of former High Court judge Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman as the new chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The appointment, announced today by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, is set to take effect on May 13. He will replace the incumbent, Tan Sri Azam Baki, whose contract expires on May 12 after serving multiple one-year extensions since 2020. 

The government expressed high confidence that Abdul Halim’s extensive judicial experience and integrity will strengthen national governance and intensify anti-corruption efforts. This major announcement notably comes ahead of a planned rally in Kuala Lumpur this evening, where protesters had intended to demand leadership changes within the commission. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had submitted the candidate list to the King yesterday, following weeks of speculation regarding the succession. 

In other government news, a controversial scheme known as Turap (Universal Recruitment Advance Platform), which was proposed to replace the current migrant worker management system, has reportedly been shelved. The decision allegedly followed instructions from the Prime Minister during a recent Cabinet meeting, amid concerns raised by civil society groups regarding the developer's past link to allegations of worker exploitation.