Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has warned that more parties are on his “radar” in his uncompromising mission against corruption, and the MACC has not gone undetected.
In a Facebook post today, His Majesty said that corruption is a betrayal of the people’s trust, which will not be tolerated in the country’s administration.
“Don’t think that fighting corruption is only focused on a few departments or those who give and receive, but also be careful of those in the police force, Immigration Department, Customs Department and many more,” he said through the Royal Press Office.
“The MACC is also not left out,” His Majesty added.
Sultan Ibrahim said regardless of rank, individuals involved in corrupt practices would remain under watch.
“No matter what your rank is… as well as the agents who are the ‘middlemen’, besides being suppliers of various equipment, clothing and medicine... you are also on the radar,” he said.
No one above the law
The king also cautioned that he was aware of what was happening behind the scenes.
“As the saying goes, ‘if the shoe fits, wear it’ (siapa makan cili terasa pedasnya). Don’t think that I know nothing; I also have my own intelligence,” Sultan Ibrahim added.
His Majesty stressed that efforts to combat corruption should not be “cosmetic” or merely rhetorical because no one can escape the law.
Hence, Sultan Ibrahim said, officers who fail to carry out their duties with trustworthiness and integrity must be immediately transferred.
“I have other alternatives. If there are officers who are unable to uphold their responsibilities honestly, give the opportunity to those who are more deserving and clean to carry out those duties,” His Majesty added.
Azam’s shareholding scandal
The Agong’s warning came amid the ongoing controversy involving MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, after Bloomberg and Malaysiakini separately reported last week that he owned significant shares in two companies that appeared to be in excess of what the civil service allowed.
Companies Commission of Malaysia records revealed that Azam had at some point held 17.7 million shares in Velocity Capital Partner Berhad and around 4.52 million shares in Awanbiru Technology Berhad.
The Velocity Capital shares were believed to have been bought for around RM1.5 million, while the Awanbiru shares were estimated to have been valued between RM1.24 million and RM1.38 million at some point.
While share trading by civil servants is not illegal, the 2024 Public Officers’ Conduct and Disciplinary Management Circular stipulates that civil servants are not allowed to purchase shares that exceed five percent of paid-up capital or RM100,000 at current value.
However, Azam countered that his shareholding did not involve paid-up capital but was instead acquired through purchases on the open market.
Subsequently, Bloomberg published another report, alleging that MACC officers had colluded with private individuals to strong-arm business rivals and stage corporate takeovers and that Azam was aware of the collusion and had even acted in support of such acts.
A three-member committee headed by Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar has been formed to conduct an investigation, however, Dusuki indicated that it will only focus on issues regarding Azam’s shareholdings. - Mkini
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