PETALING JAYA: The move to set up a special committee to investigate the controversies surrounding Tan Sri Azam Baki’s alleged share ownership is receiving the backing of anti-graft watchdogs amid renewed calls for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to be answerable to Parliament.
Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah said the formation of the special committee was a necessary and procedural step, but its success in restoring public confidence will depend entirely on the composition, mandate and independence of the task force.
“The credibility of the process is just as important as its eventual findings,” he said.
“Who sits on the committee, and are its members independent of both the executive and MACC itself? Does the panel include external legal or governance experts or civil societies to ensure objectivity?”
Pushpan said the government must clarify whether the investigation will be confined to shareholding compliance, or whether it will extend to the other issues raised in the Bloomberg report, including the operations of Section D, allegations of intervention in a police case connected to a firearms offence, as well as wider concerns relating to conflict of interest, declaration practices and potential governance breaches.
He also said that Azam should be placed under garden leave during the course of an investigation, as that would be consistent with the practice of good governance.
“This is not a presumption of guilt; rather, it is a protective measure designed to ensure that the investigation is insulated from any real or perceived influence,” he said.
“When the head of an anti-corruption agency becomes the subject of serious allegations, remaining fully in office risks undermining the credibility of both the investigation and the institution itself.
“A temporary step-aside arrangement would protect institutional integrity and reinforce public confidence in the investigative process.”
Pushpan said enforcement agencies, which wield immense power, should not be accountable only to the Executive but also to Parliament.
“This can be achieved through the establishment of a bipartisan Parliamentary Oversight Committee with the authority to summon officials and review leadership conduct,” he said.
Malaysia Corruption Watch president Jais Abdul Karim said the establishment of a special committee should be seen as an institutional process and not one due to political pressure.
He said the investigation should be conducted in a professional, transparent and lawful manner, adding that in a mature democratic system, no individual is immune from scrutiny.
However, he said MACC is handling multiple high-profile cases involving public and national interests and leadership stability is a critical factor in ensuring that investigations, prosecutions and enforcement actions proceed without disruption.
Jais said there is no need for Azam to go on leave pending investigations, as no misconduct has been proven so far and the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty must be respected.
He said there must be a more transparent mechanism for appointments and contract renewals.
“The MACC is the country’s primary bulwark against corruption,” he said.
“Undermining leadership while major cases are ongoing could directly impact enforcement momentum.”
