Kit Siang pans Putrajaya's refusal to debate MACC fiasco at special sitting

 

Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang has panned the government's refusal to add MACC's recent controversies to the agenda of next week's special Parliament sitting.

The special Parliament sitting next Thursday (Jan 20) was called to discuss flash floods last month that have devastated parts of the country.

Lim noted that the opposition had already called for the flash floods to be discussed at the end of the previous Dewan Rakyat sitting which concluded on Dec 16.

However, the government had ignored the calls only to finally give in weeks later.

"The Special Parliament next Thursday will never be able to redeem the government’s shocking negligence last month in failing to account to Parliament for its apathy and delayed response in the 'once in a century floods disaster' where flood victims were forced to the rooftops by raging floodwaters in eight states across the country which left at least 54 dead and two missing and affected over 125,000 people.

"Now the government is adding insult to injury and proving itself to be a kakistocracy-in-the-making by refusing to account to Parliament for the 'once in half-a-century infamy' of the country’s anti-corruption agency," he said.

Lim was referring to the controversy surrounding MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki's shares and warrants ownership which had raised questions if it was commensurate with his income and conflict of interest concerns.

 Azam's claim that the shares were bought by his brother in his name had also fuelled controversy, attracting attention from the Securities Commission for possible misuse of trading account.

Lim said there were no signs that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was trying to "salvage" his premiership by asking Parliament to discuss the MACC controversy.

Lim said Parliament will become a "national embarrassment" if it ignored what was developing in the MACC.

Azam came under the spotlight over his ownership of 1,930,000 shares in Gets Global Berhad (previously KBES Berhad) on April 30, 2015 worth around RM772,000 at the time.

 His shareholding in Gets Global Berhad went down to 1,029,500 as of March 31, 2016, worth around RM340,000 at the time.

He also held 2,156,000 warrants in Excel Force MSC Berhad in March 2016.

In a special press conference on Jan 5, Azam did not dispute the ownership of the shares but claimed they were bought in his name by his younger brother. They have since been transferred to his brother. - Mkini