MACC deputy commissioners back Azam, say attacks 'politically motivated'

 

All three MACC deputy commissioners, in declaring their support for chief commissioner Azam Baki, now faced with an ongoing probe, have dismissed the shareholding allegations against him as purported attacks against the commission.

Azam's three deputies comprise Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya (operations), Norazlan Mohd Razali (prevention) and Junipah Wandi (management and professionalism).

"On behalf of all MACC's staff, we state our stand to support the leadership of MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.

"We take the stand that the imputations and attacks made were motivated by politics of revenge to discredit MACC's image and credibility," said the trio in a joint statement today.

"We urge all parties to end this conflict and allow processes under the law to proceed in a just, transparent and fair manner.

"The MACC staff remains united in defending the chief commissioner's institution and the MACC for the sustainability of corruption prevention in our beloved country," they said.

According to Excel Force Bhd’s 2015 annual report, Azam owned 2,156,000 warrants in the company as of March 21, 2016. At the time, Azam was the head of MACC’s investigation division.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Azam said he had told the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) that his trading account was used by his younger brother Nasir to acquire the shares in the two companies in 2015.

The board’s chairperson Abu Zahar Ujang, who was also present at the press conference, had said they were satisfied with Azam’s explanation, prompting scorn from various parties.

Six other ACAB members, however, later disputed Abu Zahar's account as his own personal opinion.

The allegations were first published by a whistleblower, Lalitha Kunaratnam, who has since been served with a letter of demand from Azam.

The Securities Commission has since said it will be in touch with Azam over his admission, amid mounting calls for an independent probe of the allegations. 

The MACC has come fire repeatedly and just last week, senior MACC enforcement officer Shahrum Nizam Baharuddin was charged with the misappropriation of RM25 million cash evidence linked to a major corruption case.

In April 2021, two MACC officers were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and believed to be linked to the "Nicky Liow Gang", an organised crime syndicate. - Mkini