Azam Baki set to attend Jan 19 parliamentary hearing: report

KUALA LUMPUR – The Agencies Select Committee under the Prime Minister’s Department has summoned Tan Sri Azam Baki for an explanation on the controversy surrounding his shares ownership.

Committee member and Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin said the embattled Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief was served an official letter by Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha, according to Malay Mail.

The meeting with the parliamentary select committee (PSC) will take place on January 19 in Parliament, a day before the Dewan Rakyat sits for a special meet to discuss the recent flooding across the country.

“I was informed by the PSC secretariat that the Dewan Rakyat secretary has sent the letter to the chief commissioner of the MACC to attend our hearing. It will be at 2pm in Parliament,” Chan was reported to have said today.

Yesterday, Chan had confirmed that his committee will convene next week to discuss the recent controversy surrounding Azam.

The PSC is headed by PAS MP Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman, and includes Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Datuk Nizar Zakaria, Anyi Ngau, Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir, William Leong Jee Keen, Khoo Poay Tiong and Datuk Azis Jamman.

Azam recently made headlines after it was revealed that he had purchased millions of shares in public-listed companies in 2015, which he later clarified to have been bought by his brother Nasir under his name.

Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR) Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang had last week said the board had met Azam in November last year to discuss the matter, and was satisfied by his explanation and found no elements of wrongdoing.

Other members of LPPR, however, refuted Abu Zahar’s claim and have distanced themselves from him, saying his view does not represent theirs.

On Tuesday, Abu Zahar told the press that he is willing to be removed from his post if his actions last week are deemed to have tarnished MACC’s reputation.

Yesterday, in an exclusive interview with Sinar Harian, Azam said he will not step down, and said the only qualified individual that can end his tenure is the Agong.

As for why he took time to respond to the controversy, Azam said he will reveal the truth when the time is right, and as the nation’s highest-ranking graft buster, he has other work to attend to. – The Vibes, January 13, 2022