Malaysian anti-corruption chief sues Bloomberg in $25 million defamation suit

Jakarta, February 26, 2026—Malaysian anti-corruption chief Azam Baki should immediately withdraw his lawsuit against Bloomberg news agency for a report about his alleged shareholdings, and allow journalists to report on matters of public interest without the fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.

“Azam Baki should drop his legal action against Bloomberg and cease using abusive lawsuits to intimidate the media,” said CPJ Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi. “Lawsuits shouldn’t be weaponized against journalists who report critically on the government, and any grievances can be directed to the Malaysian Media Council, a self-regulatory body that mediates complaints. A free press is critical for deterring corruption.”

Azam, chief commissioner of the governmental Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), filed a defamation suit against Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg (Malaysia) at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on February 20 in relation to a February 10 article headlined “Malaysian anti-graft chief returns to stocks after outcry,” according to multiple news reports and legal documents reviewed by CPJ. 

The Bloomberg article, citing corporate filings, alleged that Azam held 17.7 million shares in a financial-services firm that were valued above the permitted limit for public servants, and that he had not declared the stock ownership. The story also highlighted allegations from 2021 about his previous shareholdings.

Azam has called the allegations malicious and misleading, and denied any wrongdoing.

He is seeking 100 million ringgit (US$25.7 million) in general damages, an injunction to prevent Bloomberg from publishing the allegations again, and removal of the article within three days of the judgment.

On February 13, the Malaysian government announced it would establish a special committee to investigate the allegations.

Azam had previously sued independent journalist Lalitha Kunaratnam, who reported on his alleged shareholdings in 2021, in a 10-million-ringgit defamation suit. The case was settled in 2024 on undisclosed terms.

In an emailed response to CPJ, the MACC said Azam’s lawsuit was not an attempt to stifle the media, but to “defend his reputation, integrity, and the credibility of the office he holds.”

A Bloomberg spokesperson told CPJ that the news agency stood by its reporting.

Azam did not reply to CPJ’s emailed request for comment.