Anwar to raise climate crisis demos, MACC issues with PM

 

Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to bring up the climate crisis and anti-corruption issues with the prime minister and Parliament.

The opposition leader said he would be doing so alongside Harapan leaders Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu.

Anwar said this at a press conference following demonstrations held by PKR Youth and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) this morning.

Both groups had conducted separate demonstrations outside of Parliament.

PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir said the youth wing's memorandum was submitted to Anwar as parliamentary opposition leader, the prime minister and Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun.

Over 50 PKR Youth members in blue t-shirts held umbrellas and placards with anti-corruption sentiments and requests for the resignation of MACC chief Azam Baki.

Anwar and Mohamad were present during the demonstration alongside other opposition MPs such as Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Pandan MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar.

The memorandum submitted by PKR Youth contained eight demands concerning the corruption allegations faced by Azam. 

The eight demands were:

1. To immediately suspend Azam as MACC chief;
2. Enact a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to run a thorough investigation on Azam;
3. Amend the MACC Act 2009 to include integrity, transparency and fair check and balances;
4. Place the Election Commission, Human Rights Commission and leader appointment process under the purview of Parliament;
5. Publicise Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) proceedings;
6. Require all commission chiefs to declare their assets prior to taking office;
7. Introduce laws that require individuals to declare their wealth if their lifestyle that does not commensurate with income;
8. Amend the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 to ensure better protection for whistleblowers.

The memorandum was also signed by 23 other youth groups, including Amanah Youth, DAP Youth and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).

Share ownership controversy

Azam came under the spotlight over his ownership of 1,930,000 shares in Gets Global Berhad (previously KBES Berhad) on April 30, 2015, worth around RM772,000 at the time.

His shareholding in Gets Global Berhad went down to 1,029,500 as of March 31, 2016, worth around RM340,000 at the time. He also held 2,156,000 warrants in Excel Force MSC Berhad in March 2016.

The share ownership in 2015 and 2016 raised questions on whether it was commensurate with his income as a public servant and conflict of interest concerns.

Azam claimed the shares were not his but purchased by his brother in his name and that they were subsequently transferred to his brother.

PSC on climate crisis issues

Later that morning, Anwar made his way across the road to greet Muda members who were conducting their own demonstration.

Over 40 party members gathered to raise the issue of the climate crisis, as highlighted by the recent nationwide floods.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had joined other Muda leaders, including vice-president Dr Thanussha Francis Xavier, Dr Teo Lee Ken, party secretary-general Amira Aisya Abd Aziz and Muda special officer Afiqah Zulkifli.

In their memorandum, sighted by Malaysiakini, they demanded a Parliamentary Select Committee on Climate, Disaster and Environment to be set up to discuss climate crisis issues thoroughly.

Muda also urged for the passing and immediate implementation of the Climate Change Act to prove that the government is serious in its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.

Other demands included reshuffling the National Disaster Agency board of directors, pushing a 'disaster risk reduction' agenda for the National Security Council to be more inclusive during disasters and the implementation of a National Adaptation Plan.

A special Dewan Rakyat sitting is being held today to focus on floods, aid for flood victims and long-term flood management.

Flooding in various parts of the country since mid-December last year has led to at least 54 deaths and massive losses of property and destruction to infrastructure.

However, the Dewan Rakyat speaker rejected emergency motions submitted by two MPs to debate the shareholding controversy involving Azam during the parliamentary special sitting today.

Azhar said that unlike an ordinary sitting, the agenda of the special sitting is at the absolute discretion of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. - Mkini