The leadership change comes as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces increasing scrutiny over his government’s commitment to anti-corruption reforms, a central promise of his administration since taking office in 2022.

Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the administration was confident Abdul Halim would strengthen institutional governance and restore public trust in the country’s anti-graft framework.“The government is confident that with his extensive experience and high integrity, he will be able to strengthen governance, enhance public confidence and intensify anti-corruption efforts in the interest of the nation,” he said in a statement.

Abdul Halim, a former High Court judge, will take over from Azam Baki, who has led the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission since 2020.Azam’s tenure drew sustained public attention after allegations emerged that he had improperly held shares in a publicly listed company, raising concerns over conflict of interest and abuse of office.

The government ordered an investigation into the allegations, but no public findings were released. Azam and the MACC repeatedly denied wrongdoing and rejected accusations of misconduct.The MACC, established in 2009, is Malaysia’s primary anti-corruption enforcement agency with powers to summon witnesses, seize property, conduct searches, and arrest suspects linked to graft cases in both the public and private sectors.

Malaysia continues to grapple with the long political and institutional fallout of the 1MDB scandal, one of the world’s largest corruption cases, in which billions of dollars were allegedly misappropriated from the state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

The scandal contributed significantly to the collapse of the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in 2018, ending more than six decades of uninterrupted rule since independence.Anwar, elected in 2022 on a strong reform platform, had repeatedly described the 1MDB affair as “state-level kleptocracy” and pledged to restore accountability and institutional credibility.

However, critics and some members within his own political coalition have expressed concern over what they see as a cautious approach toward Azam during the controversy, creating friction within the ruling alliance.

The appointment of Abdul Halim is likely to be closely watched by both reform advocates and political observers as a test of whether the government intends to strengthen institutional independence and pursue broader anti-graft reforms beyond symbolic leadership change.

Four contenders are competing for the post, with the successful candidate set to assume office at the start of next year and confront mounting challenges facing the United Nations, whose global standing has come under increasing scrutiny.

During two days of hearings, candidates emphasized the need to modernize the 80-year-old body, established after World War Two, as geopolitical tensions and actions by major powers strain the norms underpinning the post-war international order.

Rebeca Grynspan, former vice president of Costa Rica and current head of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, said restoring trust in the institution would be critical, identifying peacemaking as her top priority.

“To defend the United Nations today is to have the courage to change it,” Grynspan said, warning that confidence in the organization was eroding and time to reverse the trend was limited.

Macky Sall, who served as Senegal’s president until 2024, advocated what he described as “rigorous management” reforms aimed at improving coordination across UN agencies and reducing duplication, as pressure mounts to cut costs and demonstrate effectiveness.

“Now is the time to do better with less,” Sall said, outlining his vision for a more efficient and forward-looking institution.The candidates are vying for a five-year term, renewable once, in a process that has drawn fewer applicants compared to 2016, when Guterres was selected from a field of 13 contenders.

Grynspan and Michelle Bachelet are seeking to become the first woman to lead the United Nations, reflecting a broader push for gender representation at the highest levels of global governance.

Bachelet reiterated her support for women’s rights during her hearing, amid opposition from some conservative U.S. lawmakers over her stance on abortion.Also in the race is Rafael Grossi, a career diplomat from Argentina who currently heads the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Grossi said reform efforts were progressing but remained incomplete.While there is no formal requirement, longstanding precedent discourages candidates from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States to avoid concentration of power, although their support remains decisive in the selection process.

In a joint statement, the groups warned that persistent institutional paralysis, rising protectionism and unresolved disputes risk undermining the WTO’s core functions, including its ability to negotiate new rules and enforce existing ones.

They said urgent action was needed to restore credibility and ensure the organization remains responsive to modern trade realities.

Officials highlighted the continued dysfunction of the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism, particularly the paralysis of its appellate process, which has limited the body’s capacity to deliver binding resolutions in trade conflicts.

They called for a fully operational and accessible system to uphold rules-based trade.

The statement stressed the need to update WTO frameworks to address emerging areas such as digital commerce, industrial subsidies and supply chain resilience.

The EU and CPTPP members said current rules do not adequately reflect evolving global trade patterns or technological change.

The groups reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based international trading system, warning that fragmentation into competing trade blocs could weaken global economic stability.

They urged broader membership engagement to advance consensus-driven reforms.

The WTO, established in 1995 to oversee global trade rules, has faced increasing pressure in recent years amid geopolitical tensions and shifting economic priorities among major economies.