KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition lawmakers are up in arms, accusing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki of acting in contempt of Parliament by apparently disregarding its calls for meetings.
In a statement, Sepanggar MP Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman, Chan Foong Hin (Kota Kinabalu), Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka), and William Leong (Selayang) said the anti-graft chief should have attended a meeting with the parliamentary select committee (PSC) that was previously scheduled for Wednesday.
The four representatives are members of the PSC for Agencies.
The quartet said Parliament has the powers to call upon any witness to testify in line with the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.
“We would like to emphasise that Azam Baki should have attended the PSC meeting to address issues he raised, instead of disregarding the letter of summons from Parliament.
“The jurisdiction of the PSC is to determine whether there is an effective mechanism for conducting investigations and disciplinary action into the matter.
“The jurisdiction of the PSC is to identify the available sources of power and whether they are adequate.”
They said among the issues raised was that Azam had filed a civil suit regarding defamation against a reporter, and therefore, no one was allowed to discuss the facts of the case or comment on the matter, which falls under the court (subjudice).
They said Azam also stated that the Securities Commission and the MACC complaints committee were conducting an investigation into his alleged ownership of shares.
“He also claimed that if his nature and conduct were to be discussed, then it should have been brought through a motion and not through the PSC,” they said, adding that a new date for the meeting should be set as soon as possible.
“We highly disagree with the reasons given by Azam Baki.”
In a notice to the committee members issued today, Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin said the decision to postpone the proceedings was made due to several issues that require prior legal advice from Parliament’s legal counsel office.
Nizam Mydin did not elaborate on what these issues are.
The letter was issued to committee chairman Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (Kuala Krai MP), and the eight members – Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak), Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Parit), Anyi Ngau (Baram), Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (Setiu), Leong, Khoo, Chan and Azis.
Azam was supposed to make an appearance at the meeting after being summoned by the committee last week to explain his ownership of millions of public shares.
Chan had said last Thursday that the embattled MACC chief was served an official letter by Nizam Mydin to attend the proceeding, a day before the Dewan Rakyat meets for its special sitting on January 20 to discuss the recent fatal flooding across the country.
He had earlier confirmed that the PSC will convene this week to discuss the recent controversy surrounding Azam.
The chief commissioner recently made headlines after it was revealed that he had purchased shares in public-listed companies in 2015, which he later clarified were bought by his brother Datuk Nasir Baki under his name.
Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR) Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang had said that 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 in the purchase of the shares.
Other members of LPPR, however, refuted Abu Zahar’s claim and have distanced themselves from him, saying his view does not represent theirs.
Azam has maintained his innocence throughout and insisted he would not step down from his post, saying the only qualified individual that could end his tenure is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. – The Vibes, January 17, 2022
