MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki is not only answerable to the anti-graft advisory board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang, but also to the prime minister, PKR lawmakers said today.

Pasir Gudang member of Parliament Hassan Karim said Azam was not appointed by Abu Zahar to head the commission but by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong following the prime minister’s advice.

“Azam was wrong when he told the media yesterday that he only answers to Abu Zahar.

“He is answerable to the PM. This is stipulated under the Federal Constitution,” said Hassan.

He said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has the responsibility of settling the debacle.

“He should urge the attorney-general to open an investigation. The PM cannot remain silent.

“The issue has been out for more than a month, and the PM’s silence is baffling,” Hassan said in a virtual press conference that was attended by seven other PKR lawmakers.

Last month, Sungai Buloh MP R. Sivarasa raised the issue of Azam’s shares in two companies and asked why he did not declare them.

MACC oversight panel member Edmund Terence Gomez said that, from November 10, he had been writing to two panel chairmen, Abu Zahar Ujang and Borhan Dolah, urging them to address the matter.

Gomez resigned on December 27 in what he said was a protest at their lack of action.

Yesterday, Abu Zahar, who chairs the MACC anti-corruption advisory board, said he had cleared Azam of wrongdoing.

Abu Zahar said he had accepted Azam’s account that the shares were purchased by his brother in 2015 using Azam’s trading account before being transferred to the brother later.

Yesterday’s press conference was the first time that the agency had addressed the allegations against Azam. Abu Zahar also said Azam had given the board his explanation on November 24.

Azam was appointed as the head of MACC on March 9, 2020 when Muhyiddin Yassin was the PM.

Meanwhile Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin questioned if PM Ismail was serious about eradicating corruption and upholding the integrity of the anti-graft agency.

“This scandal we refer to as ‘Azam Gate’ has been raised since December but are we serious in combating graft in Malaysia,” Sim said.

“This is a huge issue that can tarnish the image of the MACC. There must be no cover up because the majority of people voted for a transparent government when they chose Pakatan Harapan (in the last general elections).”

He also said the advisory board had no power to free Azam from this allegation.

“The board can only advise the commission on graft-related issues, it can only look into reports, but not clear Azam from any wrongdoing,” Sim added. – January 6, 2022.