Azam Baki’s shareholding records not for public release, says Azalina

 Law and institutional reform minister says developments in the probe into the matter will be issued by the chief secretary's office.

Law minister Azalina Othman Said said the panel tasked with probing the former MACC chief’s shareholdings completed its investigation independently, transparently and professionally before presenting its findings to the Cabinet. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said says records of former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki’s shareholdings are not public documents and cannot be disclosed.

She was responding to Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya), who asked the prime minister to list Azam’s share purchase transactions from 2012 to 2026 and to state the periods during which the total value of his shareholdings exceeded RM100,000.

“The information requested forms part of the investigation documents, personal information and asset declarations protected under the applicable laws and is therefore not a public document,” Azalina said in a written parliamentary reply.

Azam was alleged to have breached a 2024 government circular limiting civil servants to holding no more than 5% of paid-up capital or RM100,000 in value, whichever is lower, in Malaysian-incorporated companies.

Azalina said that issues concerning the ownership and declaration of assets, including the shareholdings of the former MACC chief, were examined comprehensively by the special task force formed in February.

“The committee completed its investigation independently, transparently and professionally, and its findings were presented to the Cabinet,” she added.

She also said that “appropriate action has been taken based on the committee’s findings”.

“Accordingly, should there be any developments or official decisions on this matter that ought to be made public, an announcement will be issued by the chief secretary’s office,” Azalina said.

Azam ended his six-year tenure as MACC chief commissioner in May. He was succeeded by Abdul Halim Aman, a former High Court judge.

Azam’s leadership of the anti-graft agency was shadowed by questions over his ownership of shares in listed companies and allegations that MACC officers were working with businessmen to force corporate takeovers.

Both Azam and MACC strongly denied the allegations.

Last week, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin urged the government to explain why Azam was appointed as an adviser to the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre, given that he had been linked to the controversies.

NFCC director-general Shamshun Baharin Jamil responded by saying that Azam was made a member of the centre’s advisory board in his personal capacity and could only be removed by the king. - FMT