It wasn’t me – Chief Secretary proposed Azam, says Muhyiddin

 

Muhyiddin Yassin, who was prime minister at the time, said the appointment of Azam Baki in 2020 had followed procedure.

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has denied he made the choice of Azam Baki to head the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He said it was the Chief Secretary to the government (Mohd Zuki Ali) who had proposed Azam to the post. “I didn’t pick (Azam), it was the Chief Secretary to the government who thought he was qualified,” Astro Awani quoted him as saying.

His remarks came in the wake of an Umno MP having questioned if due diligence was conducted in the appointment, made in March 2020. The question was raised following a controversy around the MACC chief’s share dealings and business connections.

Azam is being investigated into whether he broke any laws over his ownership of shares in public-listed companies and for allowing his share trading account to be used by his brother.

Muhyiddin said Azam’s appointment was done according to procedure.

Earlier today, Muhyiddin’s former principal private secretary, Marzuki Mohamad, said Azam’s appointment was made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister.

Marzuki said the prime minister would first receive recommendations from the Chief Secretary to the government or other relevant parties, as provided by law.

Yesterday, Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said had asked whether Muhyiddin had vetted Azam properly before appointing him to head MACC.

Azalina, who is special adviser (law and human rights) to the prime minister, said Azam had been appointed by Muhyiddin when he was prime minister. She said she assumed that a thorough due diligence check was conducted by the relevant authorities prior to Azam’s appointment. - FMT