Macc Oversight Panel Wants To Know If Azam Declared His Shares To Meet Pm

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The Special Committee on Corruption, one of five MACC oversight panels, said a key question with regard to the controversy surrounding MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki's share ownership in public listed firms was whether he declared them.
Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim, who chairs the Special Committee on Corruption noted that there are standing circulars that state a civil servant should not own more than RM100,000 in shares.
While much attention has centred on whether the shares commensurated with Azam's income and whether there was a conflict of interest, Rais said the asset declaration should also be an aspect of focus.
"It is public knowledge that there is a circular in 1993 and also a circular by the Public Service Department and Cabinet in 2002 that requires assets to be declared.
"With regard to the case involving the MACC chief commissioner, was the assets declared? That is a core question," he told a press conference in Parliament today.
Also present at the press conference were other Special Committee on Corruption members namely senator Zaiedi Suhaili, PKR's Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim and DAP's Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai.
The committee, which reviews reports by the MACC, said based on the information provided to the panel, there was no indication of a declaration.
As such, Rais added an investigation was required.
This was on top of the fact whether Azam was the beneficial owner of the shares or whether they were purchased on someone's else's behalf.
The Special Committee on Corruption had also reviewed comments made by Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) chairperson Abu Zahar Ujang who had declared that Azam did not commit any wrongdoing.
ACAB is one of the five MACC oversight committees. Abu Zahar is also a former Dewan Negara president.
Rais said Abu Zahar's statement must be looked at within the "right context".
The controversy blew up after political economy professor Edmund Terence Gomez resigned from MACC's Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel in protest of the inaction against Azam.
Rais noted the incident and said Gomez should have used the proper channels.
However, he said the essence of Gomez's complaint, as a whistleblower, should not be doubted.
Rais said the Special Committee on Corruption is advising an investigation and welcomed Azam's statement that he was prepared to be investigated.
"Yesterday, I have also been in touch with the prime minister as this is a matter of utmost importance and my colleagues are also of the same view," he said.
Rais said part of the committee's mandate is to advise the prime minister.
On whether Azam should go on leave, Rais said the matter will be left to the Public Service Commission to decide.
He said the view was that Azam should go on leave but there have been opposing arguments that more serious cases have not seen similar action pending investigation.
"We leave it to the Public Service Commission to determine if he should be put on leave or not," he said.
Azam came under the spotlight over his ownership of 1,930,000 shares in Gets Global Berhad (previously KBES Berhad) on April 30, 2015 worth around RM772,000 at the time.
His shareholding in Gets Global Berhad went down to 1,029,500 as of March 31, 2016, worth around RM340,000 at the time.
He also held 2,156,000 warrants in Excel Force MSC Berhad in March 2016.
The share ownership in 2015 and 2016 had raised questions on whether it was commensurate with his income as a public servant.
In a special press conference on Jan 5, Azam did not dispute the ownership of the shares but claimed they were bought in his name by his younger brother. They have since been transferred to his brother. - Mkini

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