MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki is giving “flimsy excuses” for not appearing before a parliamentary committee by quibbling over the difference between an “invitation” and a “subpoena”, Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong said.

Khoo – a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department, which had written to Azam to appear before the committee to explain his corporate shareholdings – said issuing letters to government officials to attend PSC meetings was normal practice.

He said Azam had attended when issued a similar letter by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in October 2020.

“Why should it be any different now as both the PSC and PAC function under the same parliamentary rules and procedures?

“Azam should stop giving flimsy excuses for refusing to appear before the PSC,” Khoo said in a statement today.

Azam, in an interview with selected media yesterday, said he did not attend the PSC meeting to discuss his case as he received only an “invitation” and not a subpoena.

“Whether the letter is an ‘invitation’ or a ‘subpoena’ is a secondary issue. The PSC is more interested in examining the substance of Azam Baki’s share ownership and whether he has broken any laws or government regulations. 

“This is a matter of public importance that needs immediate attention. Otherwise, the integrity of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will continue to deteriorate.”

Khoo added that he will be requesting the PSC issue a subpoena to Azam to attend the meeting under Standing Order 83(2) and section 16 and 17 of the House of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.

“Thereafter, there shall not be any more legal or technical doubt. If Azam refuses to comply with the subpoena, he will be in contempt of Parliament.”

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang also slammed Azam’s claims in his interview that he was “victim” of a campaign against him and that the public now realises the “accusations against him are unfounded”.

Lim, the Iskandar Puteri MP, said Azam’s actions had instead shown the reverse, with more people doubting his integrity and accountability.

Lim said the PSC meeting would have given Azam a chance to clear himself transparently and his refusal to attend the meeting had made the public’s crisis of confidence in the anti-graft agency worse. – February 14, 2022.