Corporate Liability under Section 17A of MACC: A Gamechanger

For decades, corruption was seen as a crime committed only by individuals inside a company. But with the introduction of Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Corporations themselves can now be held criminally liable for bribery. The only defence? Proving that “adequate procedures” were in place. This episode explores why Section 17A is a gamechanger for boards and directors by transforming anti-corruption from a compliance add-on into a survival imperative. We sit down with: • Mr Ankit Sanghvi, Partner and Head of ESG at Halim Hong & Quek • Ms Cynthia Gabriel, founder of Cynthia Gabriel & Associates, and award-winning anti-corruption and human rights advocate They unpack: • Why corporate liability under Section 17A changes the rules of the game in Malaysia’s anti-corruption landscape • How the TRUST principles provide a practical framework for boards to operationalize compliance and protect themselves against liability • What the Pristine Offshore case revealed about corporate vulnerability and why failure to anticipate bribery risks can trigger liability • Why directors and boards must recognize that Section 17A makes anti-corruption oversight a non-negotiable responsibility, with personal liability and reputational damage at stake. Expect clarity, candour and real talk about what Section 17A means for corporations, directors and future of governance in Malaysia.