Sivarasa claims MACC reprisal after highlighting Azam's share ownership

Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa claimed the MACC is taking reprisal action against his service centre after he raised the issue of MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki's share ownership in the Dewan Rakyat.

Sivarasa revealed that his service centre manager KR Naveen, who is also his nephew, was summoned by the MACC last Friday (Jan 21) and was informed that he will be charged with a corruption offence over an incident four years ago.

"This so-called corruption offence is arising out of events in August/September 2017. In August, I had publicly raised with the Immigration Department the issue of how a Bangladeshi businessman named Monomiah Siddikur Rahman was corruptly obtaining permits for Bangladeshi workers as cleaners and staff in hotels by using fabricated documents and asking the Immigration director-general to investigate and take action.

"Suddenly on Sept 21, 2017, three of my service centre staff Naveen, Joshua Kalaisevan and Nico Kam were arrested by the MACC, remanded for four days and investigated for an alleged offence that they were trying to solicit money from Monomiah in return for dropping the issue," he said in a statement.

The PKR lawmaker maintained that the allegation was false, malicious and without basis.

"My staff nor myself were in no position whatsoever to control what actions the Immigration director-general would take regarding the issue that I had already raised publicly.

"My staff were also in no position to decide what I would or would not do with regard to the matter," he said.

At the time, Sivarasa said he had also given his statement to the MACC and no charges were brought against them.

"I am sure that if any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Naveen or the others had been found, the MACC would have charged immediately.

"Almost four and a half years have passed since the investigation was completed in September 2017, no action was taken against Naveen in that time and in fact, the file should have been closed.

"Now, a month after I had raised the issue of Tan Sri Azam Baki’s ownership of shares in Parliament on Dec 14, 2021, an allegation which has no basis has suddenly been revived by MACC to charge my staff Naveen," Sivarasa said.

'Personal vendetta'

Sivarasa said the planned charge tomorrow reeked of "personal vendetta".

"I stand by the integrity of Naveen. He is innocent of these allegations which are false and completely illogical as I have explained above. Naveen and his legal team will demonstrate his innocence in the court battle ahead.

"This reprisal action by MACC will only serve to further damage its reputation as it will be seen as being motivated by personal factors and ulterior motives," he said.

Sivarasa maintained that he won't back down from the Azam's share ownership controversy.

"If MACC thinks this will make me or my colleagues in Parliament back off on this issue, they are completely mistaken.

"I hope that the Prime Minister will see that the integrity of a key institution MACC is seriously tarnished by such reprisal actions. His statements on fighting corruption will look even more and more hollow," he said.

Under the spotlight

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 had raised questions on whether it was commensurate with his income as a public servant.

In a special press conference on Jan 5, Azam did not dispute the ownership of the shares but claimed they were bought in his name by his younger brother. They have since been transferred to his brother. - Mkini