PETALING JAYA, July 31 — The new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad faces a tough job in heading the agency.

Those interviewed said Dzulkifly had big shoes to fill and he must ensure the department remains impartial.

Transparency International-Malaysia president Datuk Akhbar Satar said the commission should use Dzulkifli’s influence and appointment to get MACC fully independent and answerable to Parliament.

He added the new commission chief needed to show a good example through his leadership.

"He needs to carry out his leadership duties by being an example, especially in the commission, as he must be ‘whiter than white’,” he said.

He also said Dzulkifli should work to increase the country’s corruption perception index (CPI) after it dropped four points last year.

"The government’s key performance indicator is to rank 30th in 2030.

"MACC officers should also work hard, remain united and be a team when fighting corruption,” he said.

He also advised Dzulkifli to take care of MACC officers and to ensure that they worked as a team.

Akhbar said Mustafar’s appointment at the Immigration Department would allow the curbing of corruption within the organisation.

"He needs to make sure security is improved, especially along the borders to address illegal immigrants and human trafficking issues.

Tan Sri Micheal Yeoh said: "I would have preferred an internal appointment but it was the government’s prerogative to appoint Dzukifli, who is from the Attorney-General’s Chambers. 

"I look forward to working with the new chief commissioner and hope he will continue the fine traditions of independence and impartiality upheld by MACC all these years,” he said.

On the appointment of the commission’s deputy chief (prevention) Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali as the new head of the Immigration Department, he said the move was welcomed as he would be able to clean up the department.

"It is an honour for him and we wish him well in his new role,” he said.

On Friday, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa announced that Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad would be replacing Tan Sri Abu Kassim as the new MACC chief.

Mustafar was transferred to the Immigration Department as its director-general, replacing Datuk Seri Sakib Kusmi, who will be transferred to the Public Service Department.

Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism executive director Cynthia Gabriel said Mustafar should have been elevated to the top post in MACC, a move her organisation had proposed, since he had been in MACC for more than three decades.

However, she said she hopes Dzulkifli will continue the work of the department.

"We urge the new chief commissioner to use his experience to continue Abu Kassim’s good work, especially in opening doors to civil society to work together to combat corruption,” she said.