THE statement by the top management of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) throwing their support behind its chief Azam Baki means nothing if the whole country thinks otherwise, Lim Kit Siang said.

The DAP veteran said their support adds no value in exonerating Azam.

“What is the use of three MACC deputy commissioners supporting the leadership of Azam as MACC chief commissioner if the whole country thinks otherwise?

“Are the three MACC deputy commissioners seriously suggesting that academician Edmund Terence Gomez’s resignation from the MACC Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel was motivated by politics?

“Could the three MACC deputy commissioners be clearer and more specific?” he asked in a statement today.

Earlier today, the MACC called the allegations against Azam politically motivated to tarnish the image of the anti-graft body.

The statement was signed by MACC chief deputies Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya (operations) Norazlan Razali (prevention) and Jumipah Wandi (management and professionalism).

The statement in support of the embattled anti-graft chief comes amid claims of impropriety in Azam’s share holdings.

Lim, who is Iskandar Puteri MP, also questioned why Azam is not volunteering to appear before a Parliamentary select committee to clear his name.

“The whole Azam-gate controversy would have been resolved if Azam is prepared to volunteer to appear before the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Agencies in the Prime Minister’s Department to clear himself of conflict-of-interest allegations.”

On Wednesday, Azam denied he had control over many companies, including conglomerates, calling the accusations against him malicious and a “total lie” made up to cast suspicion over him.

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

The MACC advisory board, led by Abu Zahar Ujang, however, cleared Azam of wrongdoing after he explained that the shares were bought by his brother using his account.

The shares were later transferred to the brother’s account and, as such, there was no conflict of interest, the board said.

However, yesterday, six members of the MACC advisory board disassociated themselves from the chairman’s decision to clear Azam of wrongdoing.

The board members said they did not share the views of chairman Abu Zahar on the matter.

The six dissenting board members were Ismail Omar, Azman Ujang, Akhbar Satar, Hamzah Kassim, David Chua Kok Tee, and Prof Mohammad Agus Yusoff. – January 9, 2022.