Harapan Reiterates Call For Macc Chief To Be Placed On Leave

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Pakatan Harapan has once again pressured MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki to go on leave until investigations into his shares ownership scandal are concluded.
The opposition coalition cited MACC Special Committee on Corruption chairperson Rais Yatim’s view that the top civil servant ought to be placed on leave.
"The Harapan secretariat is of the view that Azam (above) no longer has a choice but to take leave until all investigations into him have been completed.
“If he is unwilling to do so, we urge Prime Minister (Ismail Sabri Yaakob) to listen to everyone who has voiced their views on this, including government leaders.
“And take stern action by placing Azam on leave,” it said in a statement today. 
Yesterday, Rais said it was ultimately up to the Public Service Commission to decide whether to place Azam on leave or otherwise.
MACC Special Committee on Corruption chairperson Rais YatimThe Harapan statement was jointly signed by the secretaries-general of Amanah (Hatta Ramli), DAP (Anthony Loke), PKR (Saifuddin Nasution Ismail) and Upko (Nelson Anggang).
Wrong to drag Agong into issue
Elaborating, they criticised Azam for involving the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in his defence.
“What Azam did was very irresponsible because he tried to drag the monarchy into his problems and possible wrongdoings.
“Azam should know that his appointment by the Agong does not grant him legal immunity from any offences,” they cautioned.
The MACC Act 2009 stipulates that the MACC chief is appointed by the king on the advice of the prime minister.
Azam has been embroiled in controversy over his acquisition of millions of shares in two public-listed companies - Excel Force MSC Berhad and Gets Global Berhad - back in 2015 and 2016.
He was the MACC investigation chief at the time.
MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairperson Abu Zahar UjangOn Jan 5, MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairperson Abu Zahar Ujang held a press conference to defend Azam, explaining that the shares were purchased by Nasir Baki using his elder brother's trading account.
Azam stressed that he had since transferred the shares to Nasir and had thus done “nothing wrong”.
However, the move backfired and led to more criticism, along with questions about whether Azam had violated share trading rules.
The matter has since attracted scrutiny by the Securities Commission and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department.
Azam is also suing whistleblower Lalitha Kunaratnam for defamation after she wrote about his share ownership scandal.
The lawsuit has attracted yet more criticism against him. - Mkini

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