Malaysia

MACC fiasco: Abu Zahar to clear air in ‘tell-all’ press meet on Wednesday

Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman expected to appear alongside chief commissioner

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 03 Jan 2022 4:57PM

MACC fiasco: Abu Zahar to clear air in ‘tell-all’ press meet on Wednesday
Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang has earlier claimed that former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission panel member Prof Edmund Terence Gomez had never tried to contact him or his administration regarding allegations pertaining to chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. – Bernama pic, January 3, 2022

by Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin

KUALA LUMPUR – The top brass of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) are set on clearing the air over allegations of conflict of interest related to their chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki in a press conference touted as a tell-all on Wednesday.

Speaking to The Vibes, Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang said he will be addressing queries surrounding the supposed impropriety related to Azam and his business interests.

“I am going to give a press conference this Wednesday, so it’s better for you to come so that I can tell the whole thing, not only to you, but to everybody else who is concerned about this matter, okay?” he said when contacted.

Pressed further for a brief comment on the contentious matter, Abu Zahar declined to elaborate, reiterating that he will only address it during his session with the media.

“It will be held on Wednesday afternoon. You come and then you can listen,” he said.

Abu Zahar, however, did not detail to The Vibes if he intends to address the media alongside Azam and Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel chairman Tan Sri Borhan Dolah.

However, it is understood that the MACC is organising the press conference chaired by Azam and Abu Zahar on Wednesday. 

Borhan is expected to join them to address the concerns that have been aired.

This comes on the heels of former MACC panel member Prof Edmund Terence Gomez’s allegations of the commission supposedly looking to cover up alleged wrongdoings of Azam, saying how there was a “shroud of secrecy” clouding the topic.

Gomez accused Abu Zahar and Borhan of being reluctant to investigate the issue transparently.

In retaliation, Abu Zahar had claimed that Gomez had never tried to contact him or his administration regarding the problem pertaining to Azam. 

He added that Gomez’s accusations against him had instead tarnished his integrity.

Meanwhile, Borhan claimed that Gomez’s emails had never named Azam as the individual with alleged business interests.

However, Gomez had revealed to The Vibes a series of emails detailing his efforts to address the issue to Borhan and Abu Zahar, and called both of their bluffs.

Gomez resigned from the MACC panel on December 27 last year, after claiming that his complaints and request to meet and discuss the Azam fiasco had fallen on deaf ears. – The Vibes, January 3, 2022

Related News

Malaysia / 2w

IJM Corp confirms Krishnan Tan cleared from MACC investigations

Malaysia / 3w

Rafizi at MACC again, hands over documents, gives voluntary statement

Malaysia / 3w

Azam Baki clocks out of MACC headquarters for last time

Malaysia / 3w

Former officer to Teresa Kok, suspected of accepting RM500k bribe, expected to be charged tomorrow

Malaysia / 4w

Any decision on proposed charges MACC's prerogative - Rafizi

Malaysia / 1mth

MACC records political analyst’s statement on semiconductor project case

Spotlight

Malaysia

Former head of a ministry's corporate communications unit acquitted of bribery charge

Malaysia

Two sisters die trapped in Johor house fire as escape routes cut off by flames

Malaysia

NS election speculation intensifies as Aminuddin granted audience with state ruler

Malaysia

Teenager who drove recklessly, causing death remanded for further investigation

Malaysia

Police looking for trio involved in violent armed robbery in Penang (video)

Malaysia

Family of five killed as car crashes into water pipe in Serian

Malaysia

'I was once spat on by a pakcik' — Marina denies fear of contesting Malay-majority seats

Malaysia

Jewellery shop among six premises destroyed in fire (video)

You may be interested

Malaysia

Penang water tariffs to increase from July 1 after year-long deferment

Malaysia

Fadillah warns of finite fossil fuels, global volatility and rising demand

Malaysia

Govt prioritises effective administration over early election talk - Anwar

Malaysia

Police confirm mystery of Jaslinda's disappearance has no criminal element

Malaysia

Woman pleads guilty to causing death of newborn daughter

Malaysia

METMalaysia urges calm after tremors felt across Sabah, Sarawak following minor earthquakes

Malaysia

Trust and transformation: Malaysia - Japan deepen strategic economic ties

Malaysia

TNB central to Malaysia’s “just transition” as AI boom drives energy demand surge