Pkr Mps Institutional Failure In Macc S Oversight Body

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The explanation by MACC's Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairperson Abu Zahar Ujang in regards to MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki's share ownership in two companies, has shown the institutional failure of the oversight mechanism in the graft buster, said a group of PKR MPs.
At a virtual press conference today, nine MPs pointed out Azam held millions of shares as of March 2016 despite Abu Zahar saying the shares had been returned to Azam's brother in 2015.
"We find that Abu Zahar’s explanation raises more questions than clearing the air on whether Azam’s ownership of these shares and warrants are criminal offences and abuses of power," said Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues.
"In 2015 Azam owned 1,930,000 shares in Gets Global Bhd which would have cost at least a million ringgit to buy. In 2016, Azam reduced his shareholding to about one million shares.
"Abu Zahar also said that all shares owned by Azam were transferred back to Nasir in 2015 itself. This completely contradicts the known facts. First, Azam still held 1,029,000 shares in Gets Global Bhd in 2016," he said.
"In 2016, Azam also bought 2,156,000 warrants in Excel Forces MSC Bhd. Where did these monies come from? If Abu Zahar is now saying that he received money from Nasir to buy the warrants, why did Nasir buy 3.73 million shares in Gets Global Bhd in his own name without buying through Azam?"
Abu Zahar Ujang at the MACC press conference on Jan 5, 2022"After 2016, neither Azam nor Nasir continued to own the shares mentioned above. The shares and warrants were clearly sold. Did the Board investigate the money trail? Where did the money go?"
"All these questions show that the Advisory Board should have done a proper investigation into Azam’s explanation rather than simply accepting it and failing to talk to witnesses and check all documents, money trails, etc," he said.
"These facts raise major doubts on Azam’s version which needs a full investigation. Abu Zahar and the Board seem to want to close their eyes to all this," he said.
"We are disappointed that the advisory board has reached its conclusions just on the basis of one meeting on Nov 24, 2021 with Azam only," Sivarasa said, adding that the board should have conducted a full investigation calling in all relevant witnesses and gathering all relevant documentation.
"There appears to be an institutional failure of the oversight mechanisms of the MACC which will have to be referred to higher authorities including Parliament for resolution," he said, adding Parliament will now have to intervene to try to resurrect the damaged credibility of the MACC.
The eight other MPs present were Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya), Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru), Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang), Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai), Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Ledang), Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam) and Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang Pauh).
Combating corruption
Meanwhile, both Syed Ibrahim and Sim called for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to respond to the matter.
"This is 'Azam-gate' raised by PKR in the last week of the last Dewan Rakyat sitting... This is a test for Umno and BN as well as the Perikatan Nasional government if they are serious in combating corruption," said Sim.
"There is a need for the prime minister to respond on the matter. We demand that the prime minister instruct a thorough investigation to be carried out. Hopefully, we can get the truth behind Azam-gate," he said.
Yesterday, Abu Zahar held a special press conference to explain the shares were bought in Azam's name by his younger brother.
Abu Zahar declared Azam had not done anything wrong and that the shares have since been transferred to the brother. - Mkini

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