PETALING JAYA: The Parliamentary Select Committee for agencies under the Prime Minister’s office will hold a special meeting next Wednesday (Jan 19) to discuss the latest stock trading controversy involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
According to a notice sent out to MPs on Wednesday (Jan 12) morning, Dewan Rakyat secretary Dr Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin said the meeting will be held at 2pm in Parliament next Wednesday.
“This meeting is to discuss issues about share ownership by the MACC chief commissioner,” according to the notice sighted by The Star on Wednesday (Jan 12).
Nizam said MPs attending the meeting next Wednesday are required to undergo the RTK-AG saliva self-test procedure at the Parliament clinic prior to the meeting in the afternoon.
“MPs are also required to abide by the SOPs by the Dewan Rakyat when they are in the Parliamentary complex, which can be downloaded at the official website of Parliament,” added Nizam.
Nizam also said MPs are required to confirm their attendance to the meeting to the Parliamentary Select Committee secretariat, but no deadline was mentioned.
Several MPs also confirmed receiving the notice by the Parliament on social media on Wednesday (Jan 12) morning.
The Parliamentary Select Committee for agencies under the Prime Minister’s Office is chaired by PAS’ Kuala Krai MP Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman.
Nizam’s announcement came right after a statement by Pakatan Harapan presidential council that called for a special parliamentary sitting to debate the issue involving Azam.
The council, which consists of PKR, DAP, Parti Amanah Negara and Upko, had called on Azam, MACC advisory board panel chairman Tan Sri Borhan Dolah, and Anti-Corruption Commission Advisory Board (Acab) chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang to step back until probe on Azam is completed.
The issue involving Azam’s ownership of shares in public-listed companies made rounds in December last year.
Azam then spoke on the issue last Wednesday (Jan 5), saying his brother had used his trading account to buy shares in the open market and financed the purchases on his own.
It involved substantial amounts of shares bought from Gets Global Bhd and Excel Force MSC Bhd between 2015 and 2016 when Azam was the MACC director of investigations.
Azam had maintained that he did not commit any wrongdoing, adding that action will be taken against those who had tarnished his reputation and that of the MACC.
Meanwhile, Abu Zahar is currently facing a barrage of criticism after he had cleared Azam of conflict of interest in the purchase of shares.
Abu Zahar said the seven-member Acab board members were satisfied with Azam’s explanation and that no further investigation would be conducted.
Six of the Acab board members later issued a statement distancing themselves, saying that Abu Zahar was made in his personal capacity and it does not represent the Acab board members.
Abu Zahar then held another press conference on Tuesday (Jan 11), claiming that misreporting by the media had portrayed an “inaccurate picture” of the share trading issue involving Azam.
On his position as Acab chairman, Abu Zahar said he will leave his fate to the King and the government, adding that he will abide by any decision.
