Prove Azam Baki’s alleged wrongs, MACC advisory board chief tells Gomez

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Alfian Z.M. Tahir Updated 2 years ago · Published on 30 Dec 2021 5:40PM · 6 Comments

Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission panel member Edmund Terence Gomez must back up his claims against the anti-graft agency’s chief commissioner Azam Baki, chairman of the MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board Abu Zahar Ujang says. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 30, 2021.

FORMER Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) panel member Edmund Terence Gomez must back up his claims against the anti-graft agency’s chief commissioner Azam Baki, chairman of the MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board Abu Zahar Ujang said.

Abu Zahar told The Malaysian Insight he is ready to meet with Gomez on the matter.

“Don’t just accuse, provide proof. Come and see me, and I mean business,” said the former Dewan Negara president.

Abu Zahar also denied receiving any emails from Gomez as alleged by the academic. 

“I have not received any letter, emails regarding the misconduct.”

Abu Zahar told Utusan Malaysia he had invited Gomez to discuss issues surrounding Azam Baki at an in-person meeting, but Gomez declined, wanting a virtual meeting instead.

Abu Zahar said the advisory board will never compromise if any MACC officer, including those in senior posts, were found to have behaved unprofessionally.

He added that the board had not found any wrongdoing by Azam.

He also said Gomez should have lodged a police report instead of going to the media.

On Monday, Gomez resigned as member of the one of five MACC oversight panels, the Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel.

His resignation was to protest the lack of action taken by Abu Zahar and his panel’s chairman, Borhan Dolah, over allegations that Azam owned a large number of corporate shares in a company in 2015 and 2016, and may not have declared them.

Gomez said the information on Azam, who has served the MACC for more than 30 years, was provided to him by a person who worked with an anti-graft organisation.

Gomez also released to the media correspondence he had with Borhan and Zahar, which showed he had been sending them emails urging for a meeting to discuss Azam’s case for over a month, since November 10.

The political economist, who has authored numerous books on the links between politics and business, said he had furnished Borhan and Abu Zahar with several attachments to his emails containing information on Azam.

Borhan has also refuted Gomez’s claims, saying his emails never mentioned Azam’s wrongdoings. 

Gomez said this was “disingenuous” of Borhan, as although Azam’s name was not in the cover email, it was mentioned along with details of the alleged conflict of interest in the attachments.The issue of the anti-graft chief commissioner’s shares ownership was also raised in Parliament on December 14 by Sungai Buloh MP R. Sivarasa, who called for an independent investigation. – December 30, 2021.

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Comments

  • Gomez is the one with integrity. As for the rest, we know what they are.

    Posted 2 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • So this clown refuses to investigate further, and wants all the proof shown now, before a full investigation even commences? His reluctance to commence an investigation is damning as a reflection of his own integrity.
    Is this why we have idiots appointed to head these organisations? So that the corrupt can be protected?

    Posted 2 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • What kind man....? Want to protect, just say so dont bovine droppings here please.

    Posted 2 years ago by Thomas Samuel · Reply

  • Playing tai chi now? Whats the real purpose of this panel of MACC Advisory Board if they themselves do not investigate any reported wrong doing by MACC? Why is he trying to kill the messenger for conveying the allegations instead? This Abu Zahar should be shameful for his action. He should resign or be sacked for compromising his role as head of the borad. A liar!

    Posted 2 years ago by Geoff Ng · Reply

  • The rest of the members in the MACC Advisory Board should also be sacked as none of them dare to speak up. All there to enjoy their gaji. They should be named, one by one, and let the rakyat how much gaji and perks each of them are getting in this questionable and useless panel?

    Posted 2 years ago by Geoff Ng · Reply

  • How can a country hold its head up high when we have weak leaders, worse cowards, or even people who are complicit in crime sitting as leaders. They are interested in the titles and perks but when it is time to do the right thing, they fail. Is there no other members of these governance committees that are willing to speak up now they know the problem? Are they all hanging in tightly to their titles and perks shamelessly?

    Posted 2 years ago by Loyal Malaysian · Reply