The Malaysian Insight

MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Azam Baki should not use the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s name to defend his decision not to resign from his post, DAP leader P. Ramasamy said today.

By dragging the Agong’s name into the issue, Azam has inadvertently dragged the king into politics when there is no need for that.

The Penang DAP deputy chairman and deputy chief minister II was responding to Azam’s statement yesterday that only the king can terminate his service.

“The MACC’s embattled chief commissioner Azam Baki seems quite desperate and panicky. He knows that his days are numbered.

“As pressure mounts for his investigation, he is desperate enough to invoke the name of the Agong,” Ramasamy said in a statement.

Azam, however, seemed to have forgotten that the Agong will only act on the advice of the prime minister, he said.

He questioned whether Azam was invoking the Agong’s name because the latter feels that Ismail Sabri Yaakob is not fit to be prime minister.

“Is Azam saying that Ismail is not fit to be the prime minister just because he has not said anything about the MACC chief’s fate.

“By using Agong’s name, Azam has unnecessarily dragged the institution of the royalty into politics. There is no necessity for this. The monarch should be left alone.”

Ramasamy added that just because Ismail has remained mum on the matter, that does not make him a weak leader.

“Just imagine Ismail opening his mouth on Azam’s matter, his controversial ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ will become more than a joke.

“Maybe Ismail is waiting for Azam to resign, something that will prevent the government from establishing an investigation team.

“But the allegations against him must be investigated whether he stays on or resigns.

“He cannot expect the Agong or the prime minister to save him from the present imbroglio.”

Azam, the embattled MACC chief, has stressed that he will not resign as pressure mounts on him to do so over his share ownership controversy.

Instead, he said, only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong could terminate his service.

Azam said apart from the king’s decision, he does not care about any other party calling for his resignation. – January 13, 2022.