[UPDATED] MACC advisory board members distance themselves from Abu Zahar

KUALA LUMPUR – Six members of the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR) have denied that the board had found Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki not culpable of conflict of interest in the purchase of shares using his account.

In a joint statement today, they sought to clarify the assertion by LPPR chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang on January 5 that the board was satisfied by the explanation given by Azam on the matter.

“We categorically wish to state that the board members at that meeting or at any time thereafter did not express such an opinion as Abu Zahar attributed to,” they said. 

“We also wish to state that these comments were entirely Abu Zahar’s personal view.” 

When contacted by The Vibes, several board members declined to comment, saying that everything that needs to be said had been mentioned in the statement issued.

The statement was signed by board members Tan Sri Ismail Omar, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar, Datuk Hamzah Kassim, Datuk David Chua Kok Tee and Prof Datuk Mohammad Agus Yusoff.

During Wednesday’s press conference, Abu Zahar had asserted how the LPPR had conducted a meeting with Azam on November 24 last year to seek an explanation on the allegations that have since plagued the anti-graft body.

Abu Zahar had said the LPPR was satisfied by the explanation given by Azam and found no criminal elements involving him or conflict of interest.

According to Abu Zahar, Azam had said the purchase of millions of ringgit of shares of a public listed company supposedly bought by him was actually done by his brother, Nasir Baki, using his share-trading account.

To further protect the integrity of LPPR, the six members reminded that the board has no powers to investigate, as it merely functions in an advisory capacity.

“We need to provide this clarification in order to safeguard the integrity of the board and the institution,” they said in the statement.

They also stressed that prior to the press conference, they had proposed that the matter be referred to an independent committee, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Corruption and MACC’s complaints panel.

However, these proposals were not brought up at Abu Zahar’s press conference.

Yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said that police will look into the allegations hurled at Azam.

This came after Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil filed a police report against Azam after the latter’s admission that his securities accounts were used by his younger brother.

Previously, the Securities Commission also said that it will be calling in Azam to provide further explanations and to verify statements made over the matter. – The Vibes, January 8, 2022