KUALA LUMPUR – The Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council has demanded an independent investigation into Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang and Tan Sri Azam Baki over the latter’s controversial ownership of more than two million shares in a public-listed company.
The council also said in a statement today that both of them should be put on leave until the probe into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) top guns are completed, especially seeing that Azam’s case has tainted its image and integrity locally and internationally.
“The presidential council demands that an independent body investigate the chief commissioner (Azam) and the Anti-Corruption Advisor Board (LPPR) chairman (Abu Zahar) while they are put on temporary leave while the probe is underway, based on their possible failure to carry out their duties according to the law.
“We cannot accept the statement of the chief commissioner and the LPPR chairman yesterday, because the chief commissioner’s statement shows that laws could have been broken and there was possible conflict of interest involving his account that was used by his brother to purchase millions of shares,” said the statement.
It pointed out that Azam’s situation involves Section 25(4) of the Securities Industry Act (Central Depositories) 1991, which carries a penalty of RM3 million or a 10-year imprisonment if found guilty, as well as the source of the funds to purchase millions of shares.
The four party leaders then criticised Abu Zahar for simply agreeing to Azam’s explanation even though a more thorough and transparent investigation was required as the allegation involves the purchase of shares worth millions of ringgit in companies listed on Bursa Malaysia.
They added that even the Securities Commission has issued a statement to obtain the explanation of a few individuals, including Azam, to maintain foreign investor confidence in the Malaysian stock market.
“The council believes that the prime minister must not remain silent any longer. As the head of the council, he should call a special parliamentary session to explain the real situation behind Azam Baki’s shares.
“He must also explain how the MACC management and administration have become so damaged until cases that have destroyed the institution’s image.
“This includes the RM25 million theft in the Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid case and the RM700,000 robbery by MACC officers,” said the statement co-signed by PKR president and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation chief Datuk Seri Madius Tangau. – The Vibes, January 7, 2022
