Malaysia

SC turning a blind eye to Azam Baki’s alleged misconduct, says Selayang MP

William Leong’s comment follows statutory body’s inconclusive findings on MACC chief

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 18 Jan 2022 8:00PM

SC turning a blind eye to Azam Baki’s alleged misconduct, says Selayang MP — Selayang MP William Leong likens the Securities Commission’s findings on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to that of historic British naval hero Horatio Nelson in the Napoleonic wars, who mistook his good eye for his blind one when using a telescope to spot his oncoming enemies. – Bernama pic, January 18, 2022

by Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin

KUALA LUMPUR – Selayang MP William Leong has accused the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) of turning a blind eye to the alleged breaches involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki following its inquiry’s inconclusive findings.

Leong likened the situation to that of historic British naval hero Horatio Nelson in the Napoleonic wars, who mistook his good eye for his blind one when using a telescope to spot his oncoming enemies.

“That is how the saying turning a blind eye came about. Seems SC is following Nelson’s example,” Leong told The Vibes.

This is in response to the SC’s statement today on its inquiry into the nation’s top graft buster.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo says details of the Securities Commission’s inquiry into Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Tan Sri Azam Baki’s case must be made public. – Bernama pic, January 18, 2022

Meanwhile, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said one-lined statements from the SC are insufficient and called for inquiry details to be made public.

“Explain who was called in to assist in the inquiry, what the inquiry revealed, what impact the evidence had on the law applicable, and why you are unable to conclude whether a breach occurred.

“Reasons should be given in support of any decision. All the more reason for a PSC hearing to be held on an urgent basis. The SC should also be called in to assist and explain its position as well.”

Azam also made headlines yesterday when he apparently ignored calls by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to present and explain himself regarding the accusations.

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang urges the Parliamentary Select Committee hearings into Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Tan Sri Azam Baki’s debacle to be made public and open to the media, urging Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun to make the decision during the special sitting this Thursday. – Bernama pic, January 18, 2022

Weighing in on Azam’s absence was DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who said the chief commissioner should resign or go on leave immediately if he is unprepared to face the PSC.

Lim said it was unbecoming for an officer trusted to uphold integrity to not practice the rules he enforces, saying Azam should vacate his position if he fails to meet these basics of integrity and accountability.

“When Parliament debated the MACC Bill in 2009, the last thing MPs expected was that the chief threat to legitimacy and credibility of the MACC would come from the chief commissioner himself.

“We seem to be in the tragic situation of having a fox guarding the hen house,” Lim said in a statement today.

He also called for Azam to withdraw the defamation suit filed against independent journalist Lalitha Kunaratnam.

This followed reports of Azam not presenting himself before the PSC, which preceded news that tomorrow’s special PSC proceedings had been postponed due to legal issues.

Lim today also urged for the PSC hearings into Azam’s debacle to be made public and open to the media, urging Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun to make the decision during the special sitting this Thursday. – The Vibes, January 18, 2022