Clarify share ownership laws involving civil servants, groups tell govt

 

The group said Azam Baki, who was MACC investigation director when he bought the shares in 2015, had spent more than RM100,000 for the purchase, thereby contravening government rules.

PETALING JAYA: A group of seven civil society organisations has told the government that clarification is needed over the law requiring government employees to declare any purchase of shares.

Following the ongoing share ownership controversy involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki, the group said that until now, there has been no confirmation as to whether the mandatory asset declaration was carried out by him.

“Under Section 10 of the Public Officers Regulations Act 1993, it is clearly stated that civil servants are required to declare any purchase of shares to their head of department,” it said in a statement.

“Based on what is available in the public domain, Azam, who was MACC investigation director when he bought the shares in 2015, had spent more than RM100,000 for the purchase, which contravenes government rules.”

The group added that greater clarity is needed to prevent similar controversies in the future.

“We strongly call for proper procedures to be put in place in the future so that there will be greater clarity over which government body is responsible to monitor the adherence to such rules.”

It said that if Azam had in fact breached any government regulation, suitable action must be taken in the interest of public accountability.

The civil society group consisted of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), Transparency International Malaysia, Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4), Rasuah Busters, Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia, Bersih and Undi 18. - FMT