KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 -- Concerns have emerged over whether the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) took adequate steps to protect Datin Pamela Ling, a key witness who went missing on April 9 while en route to meet the agency.

Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo, who is representing Ling's family, questioned whether MACC lodged a missing person's report after Ling failed to appear at its headquarters and could not be contacted.

Ling was scheduled to assist MACC's investigation under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA), but did not show up on the appointed date.

Sangeet said MACC should have recognised that Ling, who may have had access to sensitiv...