MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang has to explain his position after six board members distanced themselves from the move to clear Azam Baki, civil rights groups and lawmakers said. 

Bersih 2.0 chairman Thomas Fann said it is clear Abu Zahar has misrepresented the recommendations of the board. 

This, he said, was with regard to board members asking that the matter be referred to the special parliamentary committee, an independent panel or the MACC Complaints Panel for investigation.

“That would have been the right course of action. 

“Unfortunately, Abu Zahar, for reasons best known to himself, chose to whitewash Azam and in the process tarnished the advisory board and MACC itself.  

“He must therefore explain himself, failing which, he should resign,” he told The Malaysian Insight.  

Earlier today, the six members disassociated themselves from their chairman’s move to clear Azam of any wrongdoing in the issue of corporate shares ownership.  

The members, in a statement, said they did not share the views of Abu Zahar on the matter.   

“We categorically wish to state that the board members at that meeting or at any time thereafter did not express such opinion as Abu Zahar attributed to,” they said.

Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel said that it was up to Abu Zahar to explain the move by the six members.  

“We demand Abu Zahar explain immediately. The six members’ statement makes him look like he is possibly covering up for Azam and we need now for an independent probe to arrive at the truth.”

On Wednesday, Abu Zahar said that the board found Azam had done no wrong after hearing his explanation that the shares belonged to his brother, who had used his trading account. 

The shares were later transferred to the brother, and, as such, there was no conflict of interest, he added. 

Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said the statement from the six members was very shocking. 

“It raises the question of whether Abu Zahar decided to ‘clear’ the name of the MACC chief commissioner on his own. 

“Abu Zahar now has no choice but to give a full public explanation on the matter – or resign immediately. It is very clear that he no longer has the moral right to be the chairman of the board.” 

Fahmi said the statement of the six members is a great blow to Abu Zahar’s credibility, and is a form of a “no-confidence vote” against him. 

“Clearly, as expected by various parties, Abu Zahar and Azam’s explanations only raise more questions.”

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob cannot be impotent any longer and the first thing he must do is either to sack Azam or ask him to go on leave and appoint a new head for MACC during investigations. 

“Six members have disputed their chairman’s account relating to the conflict-of-interest allegations against Azam, which is a vote of no confidence in Abu Zahar as their chairman. 

“The members said that it was not the board’s position to clear Azam of the allegation and it was Abu Zahar’s personal opinion.”

Lim said the members have accused Abu Zahar of duplicity and dishonesty, and he should immediately resign or Ismail should remove him as chairman. 

“Azam has no option but to go on leave or be sacked as MACC chief under the circumstances.”

Earlier today, Ismail urged everyone not to jump to conclusions but to allow the relevant authorities to complete their investigations into Azam. 

He said Azam was being investigated by various agencies over the latter’s corporate shares ownership. 

Azam is reported to have acquired 2.15 million shares in Excel Force MSC Bhd in 2015, as well as 1.93 million shares in Gets Global Bhd the same year and 1.02 million shares in Gets Global the following year. 

On Thursday, the Securities Commission (SC) said it would be questioning Azam about the transactions.

Azam said he will cooperate with the SC in its investigation of the use of his trading account by his brother. – January 8, 2022.