Muhyiddin asked whether he had vetted Azam

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been asked whether he had conducted due diligence before appointing Tan Sri Azam Baki as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption (MACC) chief commissioner.

Senior Umno lawmaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said also questioned whether the issue of acquiring shares by Azam was brought to the attention or raised by the MACC’s Complaints Committee as provided for under Section 15 of the MACC Act, prior to his appointment.

“He (Azam) was appointed by YB Pagoh (Muhyiddin) during his stint as PM8 (the eighth prime minister).

“I assume that thorough due diligence was conducted by the relevant authorities prior to the appointment. Was this issue highlighted then?” she said in a Facebook post.

Recently, allegations surfaced that Azam owned a substantial number of shares in two companies between 2015 and 2016 when he was the MACC director of investigations.

Last Wednesday, Azam told a press conference that he had given permission to his younger brother to use his trading account to acquire the shares.

Azalina, who is also the special adviser (law and human rights) to the prime minister, said Section 15 of the MACC Act allowed for the MACC’s Complaints Committee to monitor the conduct of anti-graft officers.

The Pengerang MP said there was already a number of independent committees and oversight bodies in the MACC and questioned whether there was a need for more.

According to her, one of these committees is a Special Committee on Corruption which is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Its members comprise three senators and two MPs and it is chaired by the Dewan Negara president.

“This special committee performs oversight of the MACC Advisory Board, which falls under Section 13 of the MACC Act.

“Clearly, there are two oversight bodies appointed by the King.

“Did the advisory board confer with the special committee prior to issuing any statement? What is the special committee’s stand on the advisory board’s opinions?” said Azalina.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the public should wait for the outcome of investigations on the matter.