PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob must not remain mum on the allegations against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki, said Edmund Terence Gomez.

He said the prime minister should immediately and publicly address the issue as his silence will deteriorate the people’s faith in the anti-graft agency.

Gomez, who is a former MACC panel member, said Ismail should also form an independent committee to look into the allegations against the chief commissioner.

“The prime minister must respond to this issue. Why is he keeping silent? Did the media approach him for an explanation? If we want this issue to have an impact, we need to reform institutions and the system of governance,” he told The Malaysian Insight in an exclusive interview.

“If we are to do this, we must have an independent committee immediately set up to look into the allegations. The prime minister is primarily responsible for doing this.”

MACC is currently under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Gomez had last week resigned as a member of one of five MACC oversight panels: the Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel.

His resignation is a protest against MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang and Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel chairman Borhan Dolah’s lack of action on allegations that Azam had owned corporate shares in a company in 2015 and 2016, and not declared them.

Azam allegedly owned 1.93 million shares in Gets Global Bhd as at April 30, 2015, and 1.02 million shares as at March 31, 2016. His younger brother allegedly owned 3.72 million shares in the same company.

Azam also allegedly owned 2.15 million shares in public-listed Excel Force MSC Bhd.

Gomez said the media has a vital role to play in ensuring those named respond to the allegations.

“If the media does not go after this and ensure an end to this by seeing to it that those responsible speak up and the independent committee is formed, then I am afraid our corruption eradication reputation – as far as MACC is concerned – will be tarnished.

“I hope this issue is kept in the press until those named are held accountable and respond, and follow-up action is taken.”

Former MACC Advisory Board chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim had earlier today called on the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to look into allegations of impropriety in the agency.

The RCI can also uncover the truth regarding claims of conflict of interest involving the chief commissioner, he added.

Parliament must summon Azam

MPs have urged Parliament’s Special Select Committee to summon Azam to explain the corruption claims – a move welcomed by Gomez.

The economist said it is an issue that has to be collectively dealt with.

“I am glad that MPs have made the proposal. At the very least, we have to follow up on that, too.

“The Parliamentary Select Committee can look into the issue. If you look at the recommendation under the National Anti-Corruption Plan, which was introduced during the Pakatan Harapan administration, it did call for this.

“Let us go ahead with that instead – MPs willing to use the committee as a mechanism to summon the chief commissioner to explain himself.”

Sungai Buloh MP R. Sivarasa had brought up the allegations and called for an investigation into them in Parliament on December 14.

Several other lawmakers have called on the parliamentary panel to meet over claims of conflict of interest against Azam.

Six PKR MPs have also pushed for a cross-partisan parliamentary select committee to be established to investigate the claims.

Azam has yet to respond to the allegations. – January 2, 2022.