PUTRAJAYA – Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR) chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang claimed that members of his board went behind his back to issue a statement last Saturday, despite an agreement to hold a meeting to discuss allegations against the anti-graft body today.
Abu Zahar said he had received WhatsApp messages from his members on Friday seeking a meeting, two days after he conducted a press conference to clear Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki of any wrongdoing.
He said he then agreed to a closed-door meeting with all the six members of the LPPR today at 10am at the MACC’s Academy in Kuala Lumpur.
“However, on January 8, I found that all six members had their own meeting earlier without informing me, and later issued a press statement.
“I deeply regret the statement issued by the six members,” he said in a special press conference today, but did not take any questions from the media.
In their joint statement on Friday, the six board members denied finding Azam not culpable of conflict of interest in the purchase of shares, supposedly by his brother, using his trading account, as claimed by Abu Zahar last week.
They maintained that whatever expressed by Abu Zahar during a presser on January 5 was his own personal view and does not represent the board.
The six members are 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.
Abu Zahar had said last week that LPPR had conducted a meeting with Azam on November 24 last year to seek explanation on the allegations against him but found no criminal elements or conflict of interest involving the MACC chief.
He had said the board was satisfied by Azam’s clarification that his brother Datuk Nasir Baki had purchased shares under his name in 2015, before transferring them back in the same year.
Detailing the WhatsApp conversations he had with the LPPR members today, Abu Zahar noted that Azman had sent a message to him on January 7 at 6.19pm, saying “the issue is getting hotter and hotter.”
Three minutes later, Chua responded, saying, “LPPR needs to meet and discuss this matter urgently and come up with a clear statement to state LPPR’s position by early next week. Keeping silent is not an option.”
Abu Zahar said Ismail texted the same evening, announcing that the board will meet on January 11 (today).
“Based on their views and requests, I have stated my agreement to have a closed-door meeting today at 10am,” he said.
“Finally, I would like to state that I am ready to be investigated by any quarters at any time.” – The Vibes, January 11, 2022
