KOTA MARUDU – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob broke his silence on the debacle involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Tan Sri Azam Baki, calling for calm and to allow a full investigation to take place.
“We wait for the investigation to finish. We cannot jump to conclusions as if Azam is already guilty. We must be fair to all. Let’s wait for the probe to conclude before taking any action,” he told reporters here after distributing aid to 206 families affected by the flood.
“All parties should give room to the authorities to conduct their full investigations into allegations involving Azam and share ownership.”
He said that he is confident with the existing investigative system and there is no need to form another independent body to investigate Azam as proposed by opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH) recently.
He added that currently there are investigations being carried out by the Securities Commission and police as well as the MACC internally, dismissing claims by some that the government is staying silent on the matter.
“I am constantly informed of and monitoring issues related to the MACC. Action has been taken and the claims that the government is remaining silent is wrong. The MACC is an independent commission (and) has its own procedures to handle things like this.”
He said as prime minister, he cannot get involved in the case as the MACC cannot receive direct interference from the government.
“Right now, people are asking me to intervene (to take action against Azam). We have to be consistent. Legally, no one can be accused to be guilty unless proven otherwise. We want the MACC to be independent, so let us be consistent in this.
“When Penang’s chief minister was charged in court for corruption, we did not hear PH or anybody asking him to resign or take leave; he continued to be the chief minister. Let’s not practice double standards here. Let’s be consistent in our stand.”
He also assured that he will not compromise with any individual who is guilty of misconduct.
Ismail Sabri did not name who he was referring to. However, DAP’s Lim Guan Eng is facing accusations that he used his position as chief minister to ask for bribes linked to the Penang undersea tunnel project.
Six members of the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR) today denied that the board found Azam not culpable of conflict of interest in the purchase of shares using his account.
In a joint statement, they sought to clarify the assertion by LPPR chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang on January 5 that the board was satisfied by the explanation given by Azam on the matter.
“We categorically wish to state that the board members at that meeting or at any time thereafter did not express such an opinion as Abu Zahar attributed to. We also wish to state that these comments were entirely Abu Zahar’s personal view.”
The statement was signed by board members Tan Sri Ismail Omar, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar, Datuk Hamzah Kassim, Datuk David Chua Kok Tee and Prof Datuk Mohammad Agus Yusoff.
Azam has been under fire this week following allegations of conflict of interest after it was revealed that he had supposedly purchased millions of shares in a publicly listed company.
On Wednesday, Azam defended himself saying that his brother Nasir Baki used his trading account to purchase shares in 2015. – The Vibes, January 8, 2022
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