Refer issue of MACC chief and share purchase to parliamentary panel, says G25

KUALA LUMPUR: The G25 group of eminent Malays says the issue of MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki linked to the acquisition of shares in two companies in 2015 should be referred to a parliamentary select committee for a full inquiry.

In a statement on Thursday (Jan 6), it said various comments in the media, as well as by civil society organisations, suggest that the public was not convinced by the MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board‘s decision to clear Azam over the purchase of the shares.

"The questions being raised include whether, as a civil servant, Azam had been declaring his assets regularly to the MACC board; how did his brother finance the purchase of the shares; and whether it is permissible under the rules for his share account to be used by his brother for the share purchase.

"As the purchase was in 2015, it’s not clear why this matter was not dealt with much earlier," it said, adding that the issue raises the question of whether or not the various committees under the MACC are discharging their duties faithfully, providing internal checks and balances in the functioning of the anti-corruption agency and the personal integrity of its chief commissioner.

It said this is a matter of high public interest and, as there is much that needs clarification, "we believe that the case should be referred to a parliamentary select committee to conduct a full inquiry."

"The testimonies from the MACC chairman, the chief commissioner, and the members of the advisory and other Committees will help the select committee determine who else to summon to give their expert opinion on whether what happened was legal and proper.

"Based on all the testimonies, the parliamentary committee will then be able to express its views as to whether that share purchase constitutes proper conduct on the part of the chief commissioner considering his position as head of the anti-corruption agency, one of the institutions of governance charged with the responsibility to make the government clean and respectable, free of corruption," it said.

The group added that the case will test the government's seriousness in implementing the MoU it signed with Opposition leaders in September on reforms to strengthen the country’s system of governance.

"One of the promised reforms is the empowerment of Parliament in overseeing the government, its ministries and agencies.

"The local and foreign financial markets will be watching how public concern over the... purchase of the shares is resolved," it said.

The investment community would be encouraged if this resolution is made through the parliamentary process, making the MACC function with high standards of integrity, accountability and transparency, it added.