‘Let King decide on my fate’

PUTRAJAYA: Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang says he will leave his fate to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, even as he declared that relevant authorities are free to investigate allegations of misconduct by the anti-graft agency head, Tan Sri Azam Baki.

Abu Zahar said he had no intention of preventing investigations from being conducted on Azam, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner.

“I have mentioned in my earlier press statement that the authorities can investigate the allegations against Tan Sri Azam,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

“Neither I nor other members of the board have any intention whatsoever of stopping investigations from being carried out.

“In fact, if at all there is any, we welcome it for the sake of upholding the law and for the good name and integrity of the MACC,” he added, while reiterating that the advisory board has no authority to investigate any criminal wrongdoing by MACC officers.

On his position, Abu Zahar said he had carried out the responsibility that was entrusted to him to the best of his ability.

Clearing the air: Abu Zahar leaving after giving a press conference at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

“I have done my job without taking any sides.

“If the statement I made had caused misunderstanding and tarnished the good name of the MACC, which I never intended to, I will leave it to the King and the government to decide on my position as the advisory board chairman,” he said.“I will abide by any decision.”

Abu Zahar came under criticism for his statement regarding Azam’s share ownership issue.

Allegations had surfaced that Azam owned a substantial number of shares in Gets Global Bhd as well as Excel Force MSC Bhd between 2015 and 2016, when he was the MACC director of investigations.

Abu Zahar had said that following the board’s meeting with Azam on Nov 24 last year, the members were of the opinion that the chief commissioner did not have any pecuniary interest in the said shares.He had said that the board was satisfied with the explanation given, and found no criminal conduct or conflict of interest on Azam’s part in the matter.

The other board members, however, have distanced themselves from Abu Zahar’s statement.