THE Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council has called for the heads of two Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory panels to go on leave until a probe on beleaguered MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki’s proxy share trading admission is completed.
The council – which comprises PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and UPKO president Madius Tangau – said that Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) chairman Abu Zahar Ujang must go on leave since he has lost the confidence of his board members.
The council was referring to the statement signed by six members of the seven-member board saying that Abu Zahar’s controversial comments made over the matter, including that there was no crime committed or conflict of interest in Azam’s case, was the chairman’s personal views.
“Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CCPP) chairman Tan Sri Borhan Dolah should also go on leave as he had refused to initiate the probe on Azam in the first place,” it said in a statement.
“This is despite the possibility that Azam had committed an offence by allowing his account to be used by his brother by proxy in the trade of shares and warrants.
“A clean, professional and independent new leadership is needed to lead the ACAB and the CCPP in order for MACC’s integrity and credibility to be restored.”
The council also voiced concern over the statement issued by the three MACC deputy chief commissioners in support of Azam and claiming that Azam was a victim of “revenge politics”.
Calling the statement “awkward” and “hasty”, the council further likened the statement to the actions of politicians in a political party rather than that of officers of an esteemed agency like the MACC.
“The three senior officers should know that their comments could be interpreted as an attempt to influence the investigation on the MACC chief,” it added.
The council went on to urge the three deputy commissioners in question – Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, Datuk Seri Norazlan Mohd Razali and Datuk Junipah Wandi – to lodge a police report and allow the police to probe their claims.
“This is because the anti-graft agency is unlikely to launch an independent and professional investigation on Azam and would instead work to clear his name.” – Jan 12, 2022
