GIVEN the current controversy over the shareholdings in MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki’s name, we, the undersigned civil society organisations, demand the following:
- that the authorities headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob put in motion a much-needed independent investigation to restore the credibility of the MACC.
- that the authorities demand that the following individuals/entities answer pertinent questions, in particular:
- How could the MACC chief have allowed his brother to buy shares on his securities account when it could be a violation of the Security Industry (Central Depositories) Act?
- Why did the MACC advisory board chairperson allegedly disregard the views of the other members of the advisory board and rely on his personal opinion to exonerate Azam?
- Why did the other members of the advisory board remain silent about the complaints raised by Edmund Terence Gomez after they attended a meeting on Nov 24, 2021 to discuss them?
- that the MACC advisory board releases the minutes of its Nov 24, 2021 to show on what basis it exonerated Azam without a proper investigation.
- that Azam goes on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
- that Azam withdraws the letter of demand against the whistleblower and that reforms to the Whistleblowers Protection Act be undertaken to strengthen the protection of whistleblowers.
- that the Government implements serious reforms to make the MACC truly independent, along the lines recommended by four groups in 2015.
- that the MACC be removed from the Prime Minister’s Department and be placed under the oversight of a bipartisan parliamentary special select committee.
The statement was issued by Aliran and endorsed by 50 NGOs such as All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), Bersih and Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).
