THE researcher who wrote reports on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki’s shares ownership has been served a letter of demand by the anti-graft agency boss.

Lalitha Kunaratnam said she was served with the notice to cease and desist today by law firm Zain Megat and Murad, who were acting for their client, Azam.

“I have received a letter of demand from the MACC chief commissioner. Thanks,” the anti-corruption activist said on Twitter, attaching the first page of the notice.

Lalitha had written a two-part article published on the Independent News Service website titled Business ties among MACC leadership: How deep does it go? Part 1 and 2.

Azam has been under scrutiny following allegations that he owned millions worth of shares in two public listed companies.

Azam’s lawyers are demanding that Lalitha apologise for the reports, issue a public apology, and pay damages amounting to RM10 million.

Lalitha was also the researcher who wrote the information that former MACC consultation and corruption prevention panel member Edmund Terence Gomez had shared with the panel’s chairman Borhan Dolah and the MACC’s Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang in urging them to take action.

Gomez resigned last month in protest over the lack of action.

Yesterday, the advisory board cleared Azam of any wrongdoing over his alleged ownership of the corporate shares.

Board chairman Abu Zahar said Azam had provided an explanation on the matter in a meeting held on November 24, 2021.

Azam said the purchase of shares was made by his brother Nasir using the former’s trading account. The shares were later transferred to the brother.

Yesterday, Azam said that he would take legal action against those who had directed accusations at him, calling the move an attempt to tarnish his image and to erode public trust in the anti-graft agency.

Today, Gomez challenged Abu Zahar to disclose the minutes of the board’s meeting with Azam Baki on November 24, saying this would back up the MACC chief commissioner’s claims of innocence.

On Azam’s letter of demand, Gomez said it is a form of intimidation.

“If whistle-blowers are threatened by those in a position of power, long a trend we have seen in Malaysia, how can we make any progress to get citizens to expose corruption and protect them for doing so?”

He also called on the chief commissioner to immediately withdraw the letter of demand and cease his attempts to victimise the whistle-blower. – January 6, 2022.