PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Azam Baki remains steadfast in the belief that he has nothing to fear from the allegations of improper conduct levelled against him, while arguing that the man behind the allegations should be brought to justice.
The former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner said he had been on the right side all along, and that allegations by businessman Albert Tei had ultimately been proven baseless following a statement from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) dismissing Tei’s complaint of criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Penal Code.
The AGC issued a statement yesterday saying that “no further action” will be taken on Tei’s report against Azam.
“The most important thing I want to say is that I am on the side of the truth and he (Tei) should be brought to justice.
“The public has been misled by false reports, and some people have believed these parties. I carried out my duties in accordance with the law and was never intimidated by wild allegations such as these,” Azam said when contacted.
He said the AGC’s decision had effectively shown that the allegations previously levelled against him could not be supported by the elements required under the law.
“As the individual entrusted with leading MACC at the time and carrying out my responsibilities, I had to remain patient in the face of the various negative perceptions that arose from these allegations,” he said, adding that Tei’s allegations were made in bad faith, and likely to have been orchestrated by certain parties seeking to tarnish the image of enforcement agencies, the government, and himself.
“Although I defended myself, there were certain parties who were already against me and the MACC, and refused to accept the explanation given,” he said.
Azam said his case should serve as a lesson to enforcement officers to continue carrying out their duties with integrity and not succumb to pressure or campaigns that could weaken law enforcement efforts.
“Enforcement officers must be brave enough to make decisions based on facts, evidence, and the provisions of the law, and not be cowed by allegations or attacks from parties with vested interests,” he said.
On May 13, Tei lodged a police report claiming that threats from the former MACC chief had been relayed to him through a lawyer.
Azam denied the allegations and urged the police to expedite investigations into the claims.
Following the report, police launched an investigation under Section 506 of the Penal Code, and Azam gave his statement to investigators at Bukit Aman on June 3.
In a related development, Azam has also filed a defamation suit against Tei at the Shah Alam High Court, seeking damages and an injunction over statements published and republished through podcasts, YouTube Shorts and other online platforms.
Tei had previously claimed that he was threatened, obstructed and victimised when attempting to expose an alleged corruption scandal involving several politicians in Sabah.
