KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 16 -- The Malaysian Bar has urged the government to ensure that any investigation into the controversy surrounding MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki is handled with "principled transparency and lawful accountability," saying the issue "touches directly on public confidence in institutional integrity."

In a statement today, Bar president Mohamad Ezri b Abdul Wahab said that while the statutory professional body is not commenting on the merits of any allegation, the response from the government must be intentional.

"In circumstances where allegations have generated sustained public debate, the response of the government must be measured against a single critical standard, whether it strengthens or weakens that t...