The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement (TBH-ADA) has urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to revoke Azam Baki’s appointment as a member of the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) Advisory Board.
“Anwar has long made anti-corruption, reform, and good governance central to his political commitments.
“If he allows a former MACC chief commissioner who remains the subject of serious public controversy to enter the NFCC Advisory Board, it will severely undermine the credibility of the government’s reform agenda,” said TBH-ADA chairperson Koong Hui Yein.
Under the NFCC Act 2019, appointments to the NFCC Advisory Board are made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong upon the prime minister’s advice, and can likewise be revoked by the king at any time upon the premier’s advice.
Article 40(1A) of the Federal Constitution further stipulates that, where the law provides that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is to act in accordance with the cabinet’s or a minister’s advice, the king must accept and act in accordance with that advice.
Meanwhile, Koong noted that under Section 5(6) of the NFCC Act, the prime minister must consider various criteria when advising the king on the appointment of an NFCC Advisory Board member.
This includes the candidate’s probity, standing, and the likelihood of any conflict between the interests of the NFCC and any interest the person has or represents.
“Anwar must explain how this appointment meets the legal requirements relating to probity, standing, and conflict of interest,” Koong said.
Embroiled in controversy
She highlighted that Azam and the MACC had been embroiled in controversy during Azam’s tenure as the MACC chief commissioner, which Anwar had extended three times before it expired in May.
This included controversies surrounding Azam’s previous shareholdings that appeared to exceed limits imposed on civil servants, allegations of abuse of power and criminal intimidation, and alleged collusion of several MACC officers with a “corporate mafia”
In addition to demanding Azam’s appointment to be revoked, Koong also urged the government to respond to civil society’s demands by establishing a royal commission of inquiry to investigate the “corporate mafia” controversy and related allegations involving MACC’s top leadership.
“The government must explain what makes Azam so indispensable that the Anwar administration is willing to keep him within the national anti-corruption and financial crime prevention system, even before major public integrity concerns have been clarified, before a royal commission of inquiry has been established, and before independent accountability has been completed,” she added.
Two probes
Azam and the MACC have been at the centre of two separate probes: one on the former chief commissioner’s share ownership, and another on allegations of corporate manipulation.
MACC previously denied allegations that its officers were involved in a “corporate mafia”, calling it a smear campaign to undermine the agency’s reputation.
Azam, meanwhile, has denied wrongdoing in the shareholding allegations and has sued Bloomberg over its February report on the matter.
Since then, Azam’s position as NFCC Advisory Board member came under public scrutiny after the Attorney-General’s Chambers posted photos of an NFCC meeting on June 30, revealing Azam’s presence at the meeting.
The NFCC has since clarified that Azam was appointed as a board member by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 20, 2024, for a period of three years. - Mkini
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