The Malaysian Insight

MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki should stand before a parliamentary special select committee to clear his name, said Lim Kit Siang today.

This, he added, will carry more credibility.

His comment comes after the MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board cleared the chief commissioner of any wrongdoing concerning his alleged ownership of corporate shares.

“The pertinent question is why he is not prepared to appear before a parliamentary special select committee on agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department to clear himself of the claims of conflict of interest made against him more than two months ago.

“Surely a clearance of any such claim by the committee has more credibility and value than a clearance from an MACC committee.”

The DAP veteran also questioned whether Azam’s brother is prepared to appear before the committee to clear his brother’s name.

Board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang had earlier today said Azam has provided an explanation on the matter.

Based on the clarification, the purchase of shares was made by Azam’s brother, Nasir, using the former’s trading account.

Abu Zahar said Nasir had purchased shares for two companies through the open market in 2012, and transferred them to Azam in 2015.

As such, there was no conflict of interest, he added.

The press conference is the first time in more than a month that the anti-graft agency has addressed the allegations since they were raised by Edmund Terence Gomez to Abu Zahar and Borhan Dolah, who chairs the Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel.

Gomez resigned from Borhan’s panel last month, protesting against the agency’s lack of action.

Sungai Buloh MP R. Sivarasa had raised the issue in Parliament on December 14, asking whether Azam had declared the alleged 2.15 million shares owed in Excel Force MSC Bhd in 2015, as well as the 1.93 million shares in Gets Global Bhd the same year and 1.02 million shares the following year.

Azam was heading MACC’s investigation unit at the time. He has served the agency for 36 years.

Lim said the “tell-all” press conference today left many questions unanswered – and Sivarasa agrees, saying that “the explanation raises more questions than ever”.

He said he will issue a full statement on the matter tomorrow.

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil also agrees with Lim, saying that the matter should be brought before Parliament as it is in the interest of the public.

“The press conference raises so many questions. Many MPs prefer the matter be answered in Parliament. It is in the interest of the public for it to be done so.”

Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism said the board’s decision does not amount to an independent investigation.

Executive director Cynthia Gabriel told Free Malaysia Today that only an independent investigation can clear Azam’s name, and urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to immediately do so.

She said some things remain unanswered, such as why the chief commissioner’s name continues to appear as the owner of millions of shares in Excel Force and Gets Global in 2016.

She said Azam may have breached the Public Officers Regulations Act (Conduct and Discipline) 1993 by virtue of his ownership of the shares, and Section 25(4) of the Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991, which provides that any security account opened must be in the name of the beneficial owner. – January 5, 2022.