Let SC and others complete probe on Azam first, says PM

KOTA KINABALU: The investigations into alleged share purchases linked to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki need to completed before any action is to be taken, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says.

He said the Securities Commission was currently investigating the matter and the government would allow the due process to be completed.

“They will call Azam Baki to get an explanation from him. This is being done by the SC. So we wait for the decision by the SC.

“If there are other investigation by the police and so on, we wait for the (results) investigation, we cannot jump into conclusion on Azam Baki as if he is guilty. That is not appropriate because everyone has the right to defend themselves during the investigation.

“When the decision is made then we take action. We cannot ask another body to investigate because we believe and I am confident with the existing system,” he said when asked whether the government would set up an independent body to look into issues related to share purchases linked to Azam.

He said the issue related to the shares purchases was best left to the SC to investigate as it was the right authority.

Ismail Sabri, who was visiting Sabah’s northern flood hit Kota Marudu and Pitas areas Saturday, also dismissed opposition claims that the government was not acting on the issue.

He said he had been personally monitoring the issue and that an internal inquiry by the MACC advisory board was carried out before the SC investigations started.

Ismail Sabri said the MACC was an independent body that was created to replace the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) which was under the Prime Minister’s Department after many people claimed that the ACA was under the control of the government.

“Now they are asking us to interfere. We must be consistent in what we do and under the law no one could be punished unless found guilty by a court of law.

“We will not compromise if there are any wrongdoings but it must be in accordance to the investigations,” he added.

On whether Azam would be asked to take leave, Ismail Sabri said that previously when the former Penang chief minister was charged in court over a corruption case, there was no call from Pakatan Harapan to ask the chief minister to resign or go on leave.

“He continued to be the chief minister. They did not demand for him to go on leave. Why the double standards? Let the investigations be completed,” he said.