FOUR opposition lawmakers today voiced their protests against the postponement of the Special Select Committee on Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department meeting which was scheduled to be held on Wednesday. 

Four MPs on the nine-person committee that was to have discussed the share ownership controversy of anti-graft official Azam Baki at the meeting, said that they disagreed with committee chairman Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman’s (Kuala Krai-PN) unilateral decision to postpone the meeting indefinitely. 

Earlier today, Parliament secretary Dr Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin said that the January 19 meeting to seek clarification from Azam on his ownership of a large number of shares in two public listed companies in 2015 and 2916, had been postponed indefinitely. 

Nizam added that Parliament’s legal advisers would be assessing the legality of the meeting.

The announcement on the postponement follows Azam’s objections to being the subject of the meeting, which he conveyed to Latiff.

“We disagree with Azam Baki’s reasons for the meeting to be stopped and stress that he should appear in before the committee.

“The (committee’s) jurisdiction is to determine whether there should be a more effective mechanism to conduct investigations and disciplinary action for what has transpired. The PSSC’s mandate is to identify whether the existing powers are sufficient. 

“Apart from that it is Parliament’s power to call any witnesses to testify in accordance to the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 and Azam has insulted Parliament by refusing to heed Parliament’s call,” said the MPs. 

The statement was signed by Azis Jamman (Sepanggar-Warisan), and Pakatan Harapan MPs Chan Foong Hin (Kota Kinabalu), Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka) and William Leong (Selayang). 

Earlier, Latiff said that Azam objected to the meeting on grounds that it would be subjudice after he had filed a defamation suit against a reporter for highlighting his shareholdings in a public listed company. 

As he is also being investigated by the Securities Commissjon and the MACC disciplinary board, Azam said any parliamentary action against him should be done by a motion in parliament and not via the select committee. – January 17, 2022.