KUALA LUMPUR – The Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council has called for Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki and chairman of the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR) Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang to be rested from their duties until the full investigation into Azam’s case is completed.
The council said the statement made by six LPPR members who denied that the board had found Azam not culpable of conflict of interest in the purchase of shares using his account was very shocking.
It said that the statement released last Saturday had opened the eyes of the whole nation to the shortcomings that occurred during the investigation process on the alleged share ownership by Azam.
“The statement made by six LPPR members was very shocking and opened the eyes of the whole nation
“It is evident that MACC or the advisory body cannot investigate Azam on its own and investigations by an independent body not tied to MACC is needed.
“The statement by the LPPR members is the strongest proof that the LPPR chairman is no longer trusted by his members and therefore, must be rested until the full investigation is complete,” the presidential council said in a statement.
The statement was jointly signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
At the same time, the council also made the same calls for Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (PPPR) chairman Tan Sri Borhan Dolah to go on leave for refusing to act to investigate Azam even though he may have committed an offence by allowing his younger brother to use his trading account, by proxy, to purchase millions worth of shares.
The council also stressed that a new leadership that is clean, professional and independent is needed to lead the LPPR and PPPR for the anti-graft body’s integrity and credibility to be recovered.
It also raised concerns over the statement made by three MACC deputy chief commissioners who has thrown its backing to its embattled chief commissioner and claimed that Azam was a victim of “political revenge”.
“It was done weirdly and hastily to support their boss in an open statement, which resembles the behaviour of politicians in a political party, rather than a respected agency like MACC.
“A sudden investigation by the MACC on the Securities Commission when the investigation in Azam’s case is ongoing could also be described as pressure for ‘political revenge’ motives,” it added.
Elaborating on the matter, the council said the three senior officers – Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya (operations), Datuk Seri Norazlan Mohd Razali (prevention) and Datuk Junipah Wandi (management and professionalism) – should know that their statements could be interpreted as an attempt to influence the investigation on the MACC chief.
Therefore, it urged the three deputy commissioners to lodge a police report and allow the police to investigate their claims openly, saying “MACC will not investigate Azam independently and professionally but will, instead, ‘clear’ his name.”
The council also reiterated that a special Dewan Rakyat sitting needs to be held immediately to discuss this pressing issue a day before or after the January 20 special sitting to discuss the recent floods. – The Vibes, January 12, 2022
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