LAW Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar should not jump the gun to defend Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, said a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
“It’s disconcerting that Wan Junaidi offered excuses for the beleaguered Azam before an investigation took place.
“Instead of defending Azam, the minister should request the former to appear before a parliamentary special select committee and an independent inquiry,” Aliran said in a statement.
Last week, Azam said that he saw no issue in him holding over one million ringgit in shares in public listed companies, despite Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, which disallows civil servants having shares worth more than RM100,000.
He had claimed that his younger brother Nasir Baki had used his trading account to purchase some shares.
However, trading using another person’s account is in violation of the Section 25 of the Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991 (SICDA), where every securities account opened with a central depository must be in the name of the beneficial owner of the deposited securities or in the name of an authorised nominee.
Two days ago, Wan Junaidi defended Azam by saying that back in 2016 when the latter purchased the shares, it could have been valued at RM330,000, between 30 sen and 33 sen per share, and that the current share amount was accumulated over the years.
“Based on the initial price, it is not an expensive share to acquire. I believe it is affordable to many of us. For those who are active stock market traders, it is also normal to gradually increase your shareholding over time, especially when you see the potential,” Malaysiakini reported Wan Junaidi as saying, which in itself contradicted Azam’s statement who stated it was utilised by Nasir.
Deputy commissioners’ support worrying
Touching on the matter, Aliran said it was also appalled by the “blind support” given to Azam by his three deputy commissioners, who dismissed the claims as “revenge politics” to tarnish MACC’s image.
It stressed that the only thing battering the anti-graft agency’s image was the delay in setting up an independent inquiry to probe Azam.
“The delay in convening a hearing by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agencies in the Prime Minister’s Department is also disappointing.
“The Dewan Rakyat secretary should set a date for the select committee to start the hearing as soon as possible,” Aliran concluded. – Jan 10, 2022
