Ramsamy lambasts PMX’s blind defence of MACC’s head honcho Azam Baki in shares dabbling

 

I DON’T understand why Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is blindly defending the Malaysian Anri-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki for his alleged dabbling in shares beyond the limit allowed for civil servants.

The other day in the Parliament, the Deputy Minister (Law and Institutional Development) M. Kulasegaran defended Azam by stating that the latter’s involvement in share purchases did not contravene the existing law or procedures.

However, when it was pointed to him that government directive forbade civil servants purchasing above 100,000 shares was an offence, Kulasegaran apologised.

This reflects the kind of deputy ministers in the country and what is more in charge of the legal division.

Azam has been trying to evade responsibility by claiming that he had sold his shares and what not. He has even threatened to sue Bloomberg for defamation.

Editor’s Note: In fact, the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) even defended him by justifying that Azam has fulfilled the asset declaration requirement by having submitted his declaration to the Chief Secretary to the Government in accordance with instructions stipulated in the Public Service Circular.

Rather than appointing an investigative committee to determine whether Azam had dabbled in shares that was beyond the permissible limit, Anwar has sought to defend him.

He defended Azam by describing him as a hardworking and diligent civil servant responsible for taking actions against those involved in corruption.

This was not the first time that Azam has been accused of dabbling in the share market.

Recall that Azam had earlier defended his involvement in the share market by giving the excuse that it was done on behalf of his brother.

Azam’s involvement in the purchase of shares is cropping up and Anwar for whatever reasons seems determined to protect Azam to the extent he told the reporters that they had to listen what the MACC chief had to say about his share market purchases.

The more Anwar delays the appointment of an investigative committee on Azam, the more it appears that he is trying to give the impression that he wants to protect him.

It was in the midst of the Bloomberg exposure that a former party leader asked from where Azam sourced his income.

Anwar might defend Azam but then the blind defence is not going to make things easier for Azam to prolong his stay in MACC, the anti-graft agency that is being accused of selective prosecution.

In the case of the Sabah mining scandal, the MACC appears to close the case by charging the “whistleblower” Datuk Albert Tei instead.

What way to fight corruption in the country! – Feb 13, 2026

 

Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of 

- Focus Malaysia.