You Forgot When You Opposed Azam Muda Asks Harapan

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Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz asked Pakatan Harapan leaders whether they have forgotten the time they opposed MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.
During a rally that called for Azam to resign, the Puteri Wangsa assemblyperson recalled a protest held in 2022, in which Harapan leaders had walked beside her.
“At that time, those who were with me on the streets, who were being investigated by the police together... were our friends in Harapan, (now in) the Madani government.
“At that time, we said we wanted to fight corruption, we wanted to fight Azam, but in the end, we see how every May, Azam will be reappointed as the MACC chief,” she said in her speech at the rally in Kuala Lumpur last night.
Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abd AzizIn late 2021 until early 2022, activists and opposition lawmakers - including some with ministerial positions now - had taken part in several gatherings and protests highlighting Azam’s share ownership controversy.
In January 2022, the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board cleared Azam of any wrongdoing over his purchase of corporate shares, which was initially accused of breaching the rules for civil servants against owning more than RM100,000 shares in any company.
Protesters question PM’s praise
The protest last night, organised by the Sekretariat Undur Azam Baki (Step Down Azam Baki Secretariat), aimed to express displeasure with the MACC chief’s reappointment.
The civil society movement earlier called the reappointment an “obvious insult” by the Madani government.
At the protest, Muda secretary-general Amir Hariri Abdul Hadi slammed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, focusing on the latter’s claim that Azam had demonstrated bravery in tackling corruption.
Amir said there are many brave Malaysians, including some of the country’s youth and tertiary-level students.
“You disagreed (over Azam) before, but today you say he’s brave, why? Because of power,” he said.
MACC chief commissioner Azam BakiAnwar had defended the government’s move to reappoint Azam, acknowledging concerns raised but saying the latter had shown “extraordinary courage” in pursuing high-level corruption cases involving wealthy and titled individuals.
The Step Down Azam Baki Secretariat told a press conference after the rally that it had five demands:
For Azam to immediately resign,
for the MACC to be removed from the Prime Minister’s Department,
to explain why Teoh Beng Hock’s death has been classified as “no further action”,
for the MACC not to be used for political gain, and
for an independent commission to oversee the appointment of the MACC chief.
Also at the rally was Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan’s Norhamdin Nordin, who said their displeasure was not over Azam alone.
It was over the MACC as an institution that is supposed to fight corruption, he added.
Appeal against Azam
About 40 people had gathered in front of the Sogo shopping mall to begin the protest, but the number swelled to around 80 by the time the crowd reached Dataran Merdeka.
Also present at the press conference were Beng Hock’s sister Teoh Lee Lan, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan, PSM secretary-general Sivaranjani Manickam, and activist Fahmi Reza.
Teoh Lee Lan marching in Kuala Lumpur last nightThe protest saw a theatre performance and a few poetry recitals from local university students after the speeches were concluded.
The event began at 8pm and ended after 10pm.
On May 13, Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar confirmed Azam’s reappointment as MACC chief for another year, with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The extension will run until May 12, 2026.
Azam, 62, has held the position since March 9, 2020, succeeding Latheefa Koya, and was reappointed in May 2023 and May 2024.
Among the criticisms against Azam is the perception that the MACC has dragged its feet in investigating the Sabah corruption scandal, in which multiple assemblypersons and state government leaders were implicated. - Mkini

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